Mesoamerica, Pre-Hispanic Aztec and Maya calendar pendant in silver

The “Mesoamerica” pendant is a custom-made piece inspired by the pre-Hispanic cultures of Central America. More specifically, our client wished to combine traditional motifs from two major Mesoamerican civilizations: the Aztecs and the Mayas.

Mesoamerica refers to a cultural area of pre-Columbian America that includes regions now known as Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. This area was home to distinct yet interconnected peoples who shared many cultural traits, such as hieroglyphic writing, the Mesoamerican ballgame, stepped pyramids, and highly developed calendar systems. Among these civilizations were the Aztecs, the Mayas, the Tarascans, the Mixtecs, and others.

The front side of the pendant features the central motif of the renowned "Sun Stone", often mistakenly referred to as the “Aztec Calendar”. This monumental circular sculpture, dated to 1479, is housed in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. It likely served as a cuauhxicalli, a sacrificial altar designed to receive the hearts of victims. The stone is composed of concentric circles filled with intricate cosmological symbolism.

To adapt this complexity to the smaller scale of a pendant, we engraved only the inner circles:

• The central figure blends the features of Tonatiuh, the Sun god, and Tlaltecuhtli, the devouring Earth deity, placed at the cosmic center.
• Around it are the symbols of the four previous cosmic eras or “suns”, each associated with a deity: Ehecatl (wind), Tezcatlipoca (jaguar/night), Tlaloc (rain), and Chalchiuhtlicue (water).
• The third circle includes the 20 day glyphs of the Aztec month, engraved in alternating fashion to evoke the cyclical nature of time.

On the reverse, the pendant features a specific date chosen by our client, calculated using the two primary Maya calendar systems: the Tzolk’in (a ritual cycle of 260 days) and the Haab’ (a 365-day solar calendar). The date is represented by two glyphs arranged horizontally: the day number and name from the Tzolk’in, followed by the Haab’ month.

This unique piece is both a tribute to Mesoamerican worldviews and a contemporary interpretation of their deep relationship with time, divinity, and cosmology.

Material: Sterling silver (925)

Diameter: 3 cm

Finish: Oxidized and polished

As we currently dwell in Mexico, provide a period of 3 to 6 weeks to receive your order for free with normal post service. Thank you for taking this information into account before ordering in our shop. At checkout, you will also have the option of choosing an express shipping. (please, read the complete conditions of shipping here).

You have a question? Contact us.

I hope you will love this jewel as much as I enjoyed creating it.

By Emmanuelle Guyon.

Tags : Aztec, calendar, Tzolkin, Haab, Maya, Mexico, round, time, Sun Stone, Mesoamerica, glyph, pre-Columbian, cosmology, Tonatiuh, Tlaltecuhtli, Ehecatl, god, Tezcatlipoca, mythology, Tlaloc, Chalchiuhtlicue

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