Zoom-In Inquiry

Antonio de León y Gama. Descripción histórica y cronológica de las dos piedras . . . .

Mexico City: F. Zuniga y Ontiveros, 1792. Rare Books and Special Collections Division (95) Library of

Congress, World of Treasures of the Library of Congress

How might primary sources help us understand

mathematics?

Examine primary sources. Determine what you see and

what questions you might ask to get the big picture.

What symbols do you see?

What do you think you know about this primary source?

What additional symbols do you see?

Describe any symbol you see. Classify the symbols by

categories.

Do you see numbers?

Do you see geometric shapes?

Do you see letters?

Explain what you think

this is.

How do you think people

used this?

1. Clothing2. An ornament3. A calendar4. A painting

What clues support your ideas?

Eduardo Matos Moctezuma. La Piedra del Sol. Calendario Azteca(Sunstone. The Aztec Calendar). México: 1992 General Collections (95.1) Library of Congress, World Treasures of the Library of Congress

Why do you think the sculptor chose to use these symbols in

the design of the Aztec Calendar?

How do these symbols relate to the purpose of

these calendars?

Understanding the Big Picture

How are patterns applied when designing calendars?

Aztec Calendar StoneIn 1790 workers repaving near the Cathedral in Mexico

City discovered a stone eleven and one-half feet in diameter inscribed with the Aztec calendar. The stone

have had bright polychrome colors and would have held sacrificed human hearts that the Aztecas believed

were needed to feed the sun and keep civilization alive. This first study of the stone explained its 260-day divinatory cycle. The stone’s colossal size, elaborate patterning, and symbolic imagery have made it an

unofficial emblem of Mexico.

Source: Eduardo Matos Moctezuma. La Piedra del Sol. Calendario Azteca(Sunstone. The Aztec Calendar). México: 1992 General Collections (95.1), Library of

Congress, World Treasures of the Library of Congress

Examine these primary sources to see how

patterns were applied in calendar design.

How do patterns help civilizations understand

the world?

Bahera Haszab, (Comptus). 1902. African and Middle Eastern Division (99.1) Library of Congress, World Treasures of the Library of Congress

Almanac for Hindu year 1871-1872. Rajastan, India: 1871. Fabric. Southern Asian Section, Asian Division (92), Library of Congress,

World Treasures of the Library of Congress

Gen'y Yoshida. Hkan hikets shusei. Tokyo: Sshid, 1882. Japanese Section, Asian Division (97), Library of Congress,

World Treasures of the Library of Congress