What is the famous Aztec calendar stone called?

The famous Aztec calendar stone is called the Sun Stone. It is a monumental Mexica basalt sculpture and one of the best-known objects associated with Aztec civilization. In Spanish it is commonly called the Piedra del Sol, while “Aztec Calendar Stone” is another widespread name.

The stone is about 3.6 meters in diameter and was carved during the late Mexica period, probably sometime between 1502 and 1520. Its face is covered with calendrical signs and imagery connected to Mexica ideas about cosmic cycles, rulership, warfare, and sacrifice. Although it is often described as a working calendar, scholars generally regard it as a ceremonial and political monument rather than a device for tracking ordinary days.

The stone was discovered beneath Mexico City’s main square on December 17, 1790, after being buried during the colonial period. It was eventually transferred to the National Museum of Anthropology in 1964, where it remains a central exhibit. A common mix-up is treating the Sun Stone as a simple sundial; its symbols express a complex worldview rather than merely marking solar time.