Secrets of the Sunstone: Part Four
Unlock the meaning of five symbols on the Aztec Piedra del Sol's inner ring
Piedra del Sol (1250/1500) by unknownMuseo Nacional de Antropología, México
The Piedra del Sol, or sun stone, is one of the most famous pieces in Mexico's National Museum of Anthropology. This carved stone disk symbolizes the conception of the time for the Mexicas; it didn't work as a calendar although it's often mistaken for one.
The iconographic elements that decorate the Sun Stone are distributed in concentric circles. The first ring around the center contains 20 symbols with represent the days in the Aztec month, which formed a cycle of 260 days also called Tonalpohualli.
The Inner Ring
Let's decode five symbols from the inner ring, and explore artifacts related to them. Players can collect these five objects in the fourth level of the Descent of the Serpent, the video game inspired by ancient Mesoamerica. Play if you dare, and read on to discover the secrets...
Symbol 1: Cipactl - Crocodile
The first day of the Aztec calendar was Cipactl, symbolized by a crocodilian creature. In Aztec cosmology, the crocodile alluded to the earth floating in the primeval waters.
Piedra de Ahuítzotl (1250/1500) by unknownMuseo Nacional de Antropología, México
Piedra de Ahuítzotl
This plaque features a crocodilian creature and was carved the name-glyph of the eighth supreme Mexica ruler, called Ahuítzotl, who governed from 1486 to 1502.
In Náhuatl this animal was called ahuitzotl, which means “the thorny one from water” and in ancient vocabularies is translated as “kind of aquatic animal like a dog”. Ancient Mexica myth had it that Tlaloc, god of rain, sent it to catch men to be his servants by drowning them.
Piedra del Sol (1250/1500) by unknownMuseo Nacional de Antropología, México
Symbol 5: Coatl - Serpent
Meaning 'snake', Coatl is the fifth day associated with the goddess Chalchihuitlicue, and represented by the symbol of the serpent.
Escultura de serpiente emplumada (0900/1250) by unknownMuseo Nacional de Antropología, México
Sculpture of the Plumed Serpent
Chichen Itzá is rich in images of the feathered serpent representing Kukulkán who was worshiped there. The figures form columns at the entrance of the temple; unlike those, this is an example of an independent piece that must have embellished the building.
Piedra del Sol (1250/1500) by unknownMuseo Nacional de Antropología, México
Symbol 9: Atl - Water
Atl, meaning 'water', is the ninth day in the Aztec calendar associated with Xiuhtecuhtli, the god of fire.
Tepetlacalli o caja de piedra (1250/1500) by unknownMuseo Nacional de Antropología, México
Tepetlacalli (Stone Box)
A number of different sized Mexica stone boxes like this have been found containing diverse objects related mainly to the worship of water and fertility.
Piedra del Sol (1250/1500) by unknownMuseo Nacional de Antropología, México
Symbol 13: Acatl - Reed
The 13th symbol on the sunstone's inner ring and refers to Acatl, or 'reed' - the day of the Aztec calendar connected with Tezcatlipoca, the god of the night sky.
Coyote Lid by unknownMuseo Nacional de Antropología, México
Coyote Vessel Lid
Ornate Toltec lid that shows Quetzalcoatl rising from the jaws of the earth, here represented by a coyote.
Piedra del Sol (1250/1500) by unknownMuseo Nacional de Antropología, México
Symbol 17: Ollin - Earthquake
A day for festivities and fertilities, Ollin, meaning earthquake, was the seventeenth day/sign associated with Xolotl, the god of shifting shapes.
Incensario Efigie (1325/1521) by unknownMuseo Nacional de Antropología, México
Painted Incense Censer
This is beautiful two handled censer for incense is painted with images of a dog that has been identified as the image of the god Xolotl, flanked by butterflies symbolizing fire.
The other intricate paintings on the vessel include a cruciform element that has been interpreted as the representation of a bone; concentric circles represent stellar eyes; cut shells or ehecacózcatl and small black spots on orange background evoking jaguar’s fur. All these elements are related to the god Xolotl, double of Quetzalcoatl in his invocation of Venus as evening star.
Piedra del Sol in the Descent of the Serpent gameMuseo Nacional de Antropología, México
Now, it's your turn - travel back in time to ancient Mesoamerica to race through a maze, locate these objects and save the world by playing The Descent of the Serpent!
