

Plate XLI. The Calendar Stone of the Aztecs. This great 

 stone represents the disk of the sun and the history of the world. It 

 may be analyzed as follows, reading outward from the center. 



Central or cosmogonic portion: The day sign 4 Olin with details 

 in the arms representing four epochs of the world; with the face of the 

 sun god in the center and minor hieroglyphs that may represent the four 

 directions just outside the Olin symbol. 



Band of day signs beginning at the top and reading towards the left. 



Bands of conventional rays of the sun and other details such as the 

 embellishment of the sun with turquoise and eagle feathers. 



The outer circle of two great reptiles that may indicate the universe. 



Invisible edge of the disk bears representations of Itzpapalotl, 

 the obsidian butterfly which is symbolical of the heavens. 



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