Download What additional symbols do you see?

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.
2.
3.
4.
Clothing
An ornament
A calendar
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 Stone
In 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
Gen'y Yoshida. Hkan hikets shusei. Tokyo: Sshid, 1882.
Japanese Section, Asian Division (97), 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
Bahera Haszab, (Comptus). 1902.
African and Middle Eastern Division (99.1) 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?