The Aztec Sun Stone is on permanent display at the National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología) in Chapultepec Park, Mexico City. It sits in the Mexica (Aztec) hall on the ground floor, and it has been there since the museum opened in 1964.
What the Sun Stone Actually Is
Despite its name, the Sun Stone is not a calendar, nor is it a functional timekeeping device. It is a large, circular carved monolith of basalt, about 3.6 meters (12 feet) in diameter and weighing roughly 24 tons. Most scholars agree it was a ceremonial altar or a gladiatorial stone (temalacatl) used in rituals, likely dedicated to the sun god Tonatiuh. The central face is usually identified as Tonatiuh, with his tongue protruding as a sacrificial knife. The stone was carved around the year 1502, during the reign of the Mexica emperor Moctezuma II, though some experts suggest a slightly earlier date.
History Before the Museum
The Sun Stone was lost after the Spanish conquest and rediscovered on 17 December 1790 in the main plaza of Mexico City (then the Zócalo), during repairs to the colonial water system. It was buried face-down, which may have preserved its surface. After its discovery, it was mounted on the side of the Metropolitan Cathedral for a time, then moved to the old Museum of Archaeology in 1885, and finally transferred to the new National Museum of Anthropology in 1964, where it has remained ever since.
The Museum and Its Setting
The National Museum of Anthropology is Mexico’s premier archaeological museum, housing significant collections from all of Mesoamerica, including the Maya, Olmec, and Teotihuacan civilizations. The Mexica hall, officially the Sala Mexica, is one of the largest and most visited. The Sun Stone is mounted upright on a wall at the far end of the hall, with a viewing platform in front so visitors can see the intricate carvings up close. The museum is located at Avenida Paseo de la Reforma and Calzada Gandhi, inside Chapultepec Park. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and closed on Mondays. Admission is around 90 Mexican pesos (approximately $5 USD), with free entry on Sundays for Mexican citizens and residents.
Reading the Carvings
The face of the Sun Stone is densely packed with symbols. The central face is surrounded by four squares that represent the four previous suns or eras in Mexica cosmology, each named after the element that destroyed it: Jaguar, Wind, Rain, and Water. The current era, the Fifth Sun, is the central figure. Around the central ring are the twenty day signs of the Mexica calendar, such as Crocodile, Wind, House, and Lizard, each in a small square. The outer rings contain turquoise (xiuhuitzolli) symbols and fire serpents (xiuhcoatl) that carry the sun across the sky. The stone is not a calendar, but it does contain calendrical glyphs.
Common Misconceptions
Many people assume the Sun Stone is a calendar that predicts eclipses or the end of the world. This is false. It is a symbolic representation of Mexica cosmology and ritual, not a predictive device. The famous “end of the world” prediction tied to 21 December 2012 was based on a misinterpretation of a different monument, the Tortuguero Monument 6, and has no connection to the Sun Stone. Also, the stone is not the “Aztec Calendar Stone” in the sense of a functional calendar; that name is a popular misnomer.
Visiting Tips
If you plan to visit, here are a few practical points:
- Go early in the morning on a weekday to avoid crowds; the museum gets busy after 11 AM.
- Allow at least two hours for the Mexica hall alone, as there are many other notable pieces, including the Coatlicue statue and the Piedra del Sol’s companion, the Stone of Tizoc.
- Photography is allowed, but flash is prohibited because it can damage the pigments on other artifacts.
- Audio guides are available in several languages at the entrance, and they include a detailed explanation of the Sun Stone.
- The museum has a café and a gift shop, but you cannot bring food into the exhibition halls.
Related Monuments
The Sun Stone is not the only large Mexica sculpture. The Stone of Tizoc, also in the same hall, is a similar cylindrical stone with carvings of warriors, but it is smaller and less famous. The Coatlicue statue, a massive earth goddess figure, is also in the Mexica hall and is considered a masterpiece of Mexica art. If you are interested in seeing other Aztec-era artifacts, the Templo Mayor Museum, located near the Zócalo, houses many objects excavated from the main temple of Tenochtitlan, including the Coyolxauhqui stone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Aztec Sun Stone in the National Museum of Anthropology?
Yes, it is the centerpiece of the Mexica hall on the ground floor of the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. It has been displayed there since the museum opened in 1964.
Can I take photos of the Sun Stone?
Yes, non-flash photography is allowed. Tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted in the galleries. Flash photography is prohibited because it can damage the stone and other artifacts.
Is the Sun Stone the same as the Aztec Calendar?
No. The Sun Stone is a ceremonial carving, not a calendar. The Aztec calendar actually consisted of two separate systems: the tonalpohualli (260-day ritual calendar) and the xiuhpohualli (365-day solar calendar). The Sun Stone includes glyphs from the tonalpohualli, but it is not a working calendar.
How old is the Sun Stone?
It was carved around 1502 CE, during the reign of Moctezuma II, which makes it about 520 years old. It was rediscovered in 1790.
What is the central face on the Sun Stone?
Most scholars identify it as Tonatiuh, the Mexica sun god, though some have argued it could be the earth goddess Tlaltecuhtli or a representation of the current era, the Fifth Sun. The protruding tongue is often interpreted as a sacrificial flint knife.
Is the Sun Stone a replica?
No, the stone in the museum is the original. There are replicas in other museums around the world, but the one in Mexico City is the genuine artifact.
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