I went to Mexico City on Saturday and encountered one of the premier museums of the world. It is absolutely breathtaking. The layout, the halls, the outdoor alcoves with further architectural features is so immersive. How could I have only allowed three hours? well I did have to go and greet Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, another unique expression of Mexican culture and history.
So @takitus did an engraving of the Sun Stone and that is actually what inspired me most to make the trip. I also wanted to see some of the Mayan glyphs and get a better sense of the country and its art and culture.
Having only seen the stone in pictures, I was unprepared when I turned the corner and saw this:
Totally unprepared for the enormity of the object. Defined monolithic for me forever. One big **s stone.
I did the right half of the hall and then approached the stone.
So everyone wants to get a picture of themselves holding it up Atlas style. At least it gives you some perspective.
Wasn’t about to ask if I could sit on someone’s shoulder and didn’t have a selfie extension so there is a distortion.
So Philip can tweak this pic and his SVG to work with different representations of the amazing stone.
Side shot for shadow and depth.
So this isn’t a calendar stone per se. It is the sun stone representing the five different, successive suns of ancient lore.
Having been three weeks in Mexico and having seen only a few clouds, I can attest that the sun would most likely take center place in culture and religion. Most of us moderns, at least in Missouri can fairly well ignore the sun in our daily existence. Gives me something to think about, how separated we are from the larger forces and rhythms of nature.
Evidently it was intended as a sacrificial altar of some kind. It seems to have been used but it had a big defect in it with a crack going through the whole stone.
I also encountered other stone work and figures that were inspiring as designs.
The sun stone is a very popular art design. Not as ubiquitous as Frida Kahlo but enough that the souvenirs are all over.
Of course the stone would have been painted like everything else.
And once Philip gets the 3D engraving down on this, he can make a chocolate mold.
Really wanted to connect with @ernesto.a.ramirezr but my phone had no service all day. Weird. Sorry. Next time. I’ll have to come back because I missed the whole upper floor.
Definitely worth watching the video if you wish to appropriate the design.