112 countries participated in 18 sports at the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City from October 12-27, 1968. This stamp features the Mexican flag on the right and an Aztec calendar stone on the left. As an extra X, the first Aztec calendar was called the Xiuhpohualli, the counting of years (18 months of 20 days, plus 5 'unlucky' days when disasters may happen). There is also a second calendar on the stone for the days - each week had 13 days. It was carved from solidified lava in the 15th C, but somehow was lost for 300 years, later found buried in the central square of Mexico City.
for the letter X - Mexico, Xiuhpohualli
7 comments:
A beautiful stamp, interesting to know what calendar Aztecs used to use - amazing that it origins from centuries ago!
And amazing that people from all over the world thought of creating a calendar. Maybe an idea for Sunday Stamps, to include more New Year celebrations at the start of the respectively starting new year? Besides the Chinese Year of the Dog, which starts on 16 February if I am correct, there is the Persian New Year which starts 20 or 21 March, exactly on the first day of Spring (something with vernal equinox)(see Now Ruz for some insipration of which stamps would be appropriate, even a goldfish and a hyacinth :-) , and there are the Arab, Gregorian, Japanese and probably many more, new years (of which I don't know the exact dates and habits but thanks to the internet we'll find out).
I'm sure Mexico will feature a lot this week. This Olympic Games stamp from Australia may give others Xcelent idea too.
This is a great stamp and a great find for the letter X.
I love the Aztec Calendar Stone as a symbol and it looks great on this stamp! (I have earrings with it :))). Xiuhpohualli is right on spot here! Well done! :)
I didn't know the Aztec calendar name started with an X until I googled it! so that was truly a bonus!
Nice to know when ones unlucky days were going to appear rather than the rather random Friday 13th. I'm now cogitating how the moon factored into the months. Its a lovely object. Cracking X word.
excellent bonus X! I find the meso-American cultures fascinating.
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