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Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



of the Aztecs. Though somewhat mutilated, it is almost a perfect square 

 in form, and consists of a circular cylinder, raised in relief of eleven inches 

 beyond the remaining surface of the stone, which is four and a half Span- 

 ish yards in width, one yard (vara*) in thickness, and, according to Lord 

 Kingsborough, weighs fifty tons. 



In the office of the Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company, No. 159 

 Walnut Street, there is a large photographic copy of this stone, but the 

 carvings have been much defaced since Grama first saw it, and, most for- 

 tunately, had accurate drawings made of its marvelous hieroglyphics. 



The surface of the stone is covered with concentric circles, inclosing 

 figures, which refer to the several motions of the sun, and to some of the 

 Mexican festivals and ceremonials which were celebrated at the periods 

 included between the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. 



It has been ascertained that this stone was constructed and placed in a 

 Mexican temple but a few years previous to the conquest, and during the 

 reign of the last of the Montezumas. 



The great Calendar Stone now stands fixed in the wall of the Grand 

 Cathedral of Mexico. 



The principal figure represents a human face, with the tongue hanging 

 out, inclosed by a circle seven-eighths varas in diameter. The circle ex- 

 terior to this is one and five-eighths, varas in diameter, and it incloses four 

 square-framed hieroglyphics, which refer to the four seasons, and to the 

 legends of the sun's four destructions. 



Around the principal central figure of the sun and the seasons, the next 

 circles inclose the symbols of the twenty (20) days of the month, each of 

 which has a special symbol and a special name, as follows : 



1. Cipactli — sea monster. 11. Ozomatli — ape. 



2. Ehecatl — wind. 12. Malinalli — grass. 



3. Calli — house. 13. Acatl — reeds. 



4. Cuetzpalin — lizard. 14. Ocelotl — tiger. 



5. Cohuatl — serpent. 15. Quauhtli — eagle. 



6. Miquiztli — death. 16. Cozcaquauhtli — vulture. 



7. Mazatl — deer. 17. Ollin — sun's movements. 



8. Tochtli— rabbit. 18. Tecpatl— flint. 



9. Atl — water. 19. Quiahuitl — rain. 

 10. Itzcuintli — dog. 20. Xochtli — flower. 



These symbols are arranged in such order of sequence that, beginning at 

 the upper rim of the circle, you move around successively to the left, as is 



*The vara is equal to 32.9 inches. 



