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What is the function of the Calendar Stone?

1) Monument
2) Sacrificial altar
3) Twelve-month calendar
4) Marker of ritual cycles
5) All of the above

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

The Aztec Sun Stone served numerous functions including representing Aztec mythology, acting as a sacrificial altar, and charting ritual cycles and astronomical events.

Step-by-step explanation:

The function of the Calendar Stone, specifically referencing the Aztec Sun Stone, is a topic of debate among historians. However, the most accepted interpretations suggest that the stone served multiple purposes. It represented a solar disk displaying the myth of the five suns. The central face with the obsidian blade tongue is associated with the need for human sacrifice. The stone also acted as a historical and religious symbol charting the Aztec cosmos and was potentially used as a sacrificial altar. The design elements of the stone align with Aztec mythology and the set of 20 day symbols suggest it had a calendrical function as well. Furthermore, it framed ritual cycles and significant astronomical events important to the Aztec civilization.

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