late 15th–early 16th century CEReputable sourceWell documented
The Sun Stone
On the timeline · around late 15th–early 16th century CE ·
What happened
The Aztecs carved the Sun Stone (or Calendar Stone), a monumental basalt disc 3.6 metres across and weighing some 25 tons. Its dense imagery depicts the five consecutive 'suns,' or world-ages, of Aztec cosmology around a central face.
Why it matters
The Sun Stone is the most famous surviving work of Aztec art — a monument in stone to their vision of cyclical creation and destruction, and an icon of Mexico today.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Sun Stone (Calendar Stone) · Reputable source