Antonio de León y Gama (1735–1802) was a Mexican astronomer, anthropologist and writer. When in 1790 the Aztec calendar stone (also called sun stone) was discovered buried under the main square of Mexico City, he published an essay about it, Descripción histórica y cronológica de las dos piedras que con ocasión del nuevo empedrado que se está formando en la plaza principal de México, se hallaron en ella el año de 1790 (Historical and chronological description of two Stones that were found in the plaza of Mexico in 1790 upon the occasion of laying the new pavement) explaining the functioning of aztec calendars.[1][2]
Illustration depicting an ancient Mexican calendar, of Antonio de León y Gama's book on the discovery of the sun stone. Digitally restored
Antonio de León y Gama was born in 1735, the son of a jurist in the city of Mexico, who was notable due to being the author of a book on contracts; His mother died at his birth. He remained in city of Mexico in his whole life and died there in 1802. Between 1753 and 1755 he attended to the Jesuit San Ildefonso law school achieving a degree. In 1758 began work at the Real Audiencia of Mexico where he remained all his professional career. He was commented to be poor and have had many descendants.[2][3] He was a self-trained mathematician and astronomers, "becoming one of the most capable Mexican astronomer of his day."[4]
Works
Title page of León y Gama's book
Antonio de León y Gama wrote works in different fields of science, such as astronomy, medicine, or history, although he is most known for his description of the discovery of the Aztec calendar stone.[2][3]
Some of his works are
Astronomy:
Calendario 1771 (Calendary 1770)
Calendario 1772 (Calendary 1771)
Descripción orthográphica universal del eclipse de sol del día 24 de junio de 1778 (Universal orthographic description of the sun eclipse of 24 June 1778)
Observaciones meteorológicas (Meteorological observations) in Gaceta Mexicana, February 1787.
Discurso sobre la luz septentrional que se vio en esta ciudad el día 14 de noviembre de 1789 (Discourse on the septentrional light seen in this city on 14 November 1789) in Gaceta Mexicana, October 1789
Disertación física sobre la materia y formación de las auroras boreales (Physical dissertation on matter and the formation of the auroras borealis), 1790.
Carta a un amigo (Letter to a friend), in Gaceta Mexicana, April 1801, where he describes how centuries should be counted.
Medicine:
Instrucción sobre el remedio de las lagartijas (On the remedy of wall lizards), 1782, where he debated the use of wall lizards as a cure for cancer.
Descripción histórica y cronológica de las dos piedras que con ocasión del nuevo empedrado que se está formando en la plaza principal de México, se hallaron en ella el año de 1790 (Historical and chronological description of two Stones that were found in the plaza of Mexico upon the occasion of laying the new pavement).[1]
Compendio de la historia antigua de la Nueva España, desde sus primeros pobladores hasta despúes de la conquista; deducido de la pinturas de los indios, de los mejores manuscritos que dejaron estos así en su idioma como en nuestro castellano y de otros documentos originales donde se refutan varias relaciones históricas. MS in the Huntington Library, microfilm in the Library of Congress
Historical and chronological description of two Stones that were found in the plaza of Mexico upon the occasion of laying the new pavement
This book was published in 1792. In it León y Gama described the discovery in 1790 of two of the most important pieces of aztec art in the Zócalo, main plaza of the city of Mexico: the sun stone and a statue of Coatlicue, an aztec goddess. León y Gama also included in it most of his knowledge and theories on how aztecs measured time. The work, as opposed to authors of previous centuries, praised Aztec society and their scientific and artistics achievements in line with the growing Mexican nationalism in the late 18th century. It was published by Felipe de Zúñiga y Ontiveros, owner of one of the most important printing establishments in America at the time. In addition to print the book had three folded manuscript watercolor drawings. Thanks to the publication of the book León y Gama is considered by many the first Mexican archeologist.[5]
References
^ abLeón y Gama, Antonio (1792). Descripción histórica y cronológica de las dos piedras que con ocasión del nuevo empedrado que se está formando en la plaza principal de México, se hallaron en ella el año de 1790. Mexico: Impr. de Don F. de Zúñiga y Ontiveros.
^ abcMoreno, Roberto (1981). (PDF). Estudios de Historia Novohispana. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
^ abBaranda, José M. (1783). (PDF). In Eduardo L. Gallo (ed.). Hombres ilustres mexicanos. Vol. 3. Mexico: Imprenta de Ignacio Cumplido. pp. 71–78. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-06-25. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
^Warren, J. Benedict, "An Introductory Survey of Secular Writings in the European Tradition on Colonial Middle America, 1503-1818, item 97, "Antonio de León y Gama (1735-1802)" in Handbook of Middle American Indians, vol. 13. Guide to Ethnohistorical Sources, Howard F. Cline, volume editor. Austin: University of Texas Press 1973, pp. 90-91.
^"Historical and Chronological Description of ... - World Digital Library". from the original on 28 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
External links
Works by or about Antonio de León y Gama in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
December 31, 2022
antonio, león, gama, 1735, 1802, mexican, astronomer, anthropologist, writer, when, 1790, aztec, calendar, stone, also, called, stone, discovered, buried, under, main, square, mexico, city, published, essay, about, descripción, histórica, cronológica, piedras,. Antonio de Leon y Gama 1735 1802 was a Mexican astronomer anthropologist and writer When in 1790 the Aztec calendar stone also called sun stone was discovered buried under the main square of Mexico City he published an essay about it Descripcion historica y cronologica de las dos piedras que con ocasion del nuevo empedrado que se esta formando en la plaza principal de Mexico se hallaron en ella el ano de 1790 Historical and chronological description of two Stones that were found in the plaza of Mexico in 1790 upon the occasion of laying the new pavement explaining the functioning of aztec calendars 1 2 Illustration depicting an ancient Mexican calendar of Antonio de Leon y Gama s book on the discovery of the sun stone Digitally restored Contents 1 Life 2 Works 2 1 Historical and chronological description of two Stones that were found in the plaza of Mexico upon the occasion of laying the new pavement 3 References 4 External linksLife EditAntonio de Leon y Gama was born in 1735 the son of a jurist in the city of Mexico who was notable due to being the author of a book on contracts His mother died at his birth He remained in city of Mexico in his whole life and died there in 1802 Between 1753 and 1755 he attended to the Jesuit San Ildefonso law school achieving a degree In 1758 began work at the Real Audiencia of Mexico where he remained all his professional career He was commented to be poor and have had many descendants 2 3 He was a self trained mathematician and astronomers becoming one of the most capable Mexican astronomer of his day 4 Works Edit Title page of Leon y Gama s book Antonio de Leon y Gama wrote works in different fields of science such as astronomy medicine or history although he is most known for his description of the discovery of the Aztec calendar stone 2 3 Some of his works are Astronomy Calendario 1771 Calendary 1770 Calendario 1772 Calendary 1771 Descripcion orthographica universal del eclipse de sol del dia 24 de junio de 1778 Universal orthographic description of the sun eclipse of 24 June 1778 Observaciones meteorologicas Meteorological observations in Gaceta Mexicana February 1787 Discurso sobre la luz septentrional que se vio en esta ciudad el dia 14 de noviembre de 1789 Discourse on the septentrional light seen in this city on 14 November 1789 in Gaceta Mexicana October 1789 Disertacion fisica sobre la materia y formacion de las auroras boreales Physical dissertation on matter and the formation of the auroras borealis 1790 Carta a un amigo Letter to a friend in Gaceta Mexicana April 1801 where he describes how centuries should be counted Medicine Instruccion sobre el remedio de las lagartijas On the remedy of wall lizards 1782 where he debated the use of wall lizards as a cure for cancer Respuesta satisfactoria Satisfactory answer 1783 History Descripcion historica y cronologica de las dos piedras que con ocasion del nuevo empedrado que se esta formando en la plaza principal de Mexico se hallaron en ella el ano de 1790 Historical and chronological description of two Stones that were found in the plaza of Mexico upon the occasion of laying the new pavement 1 Compendio de la historia antigua de la Nueva Espana desde sus primeros pobladores hasta despues de la conquista deducido de la pinturas de los indios de los mejores manuscritos que dejaron estos asi en su idioma como en nuestro castellano y de otros documentos originales donde se refutan varias relaciones historicas MS in the Huntington Library microfilm in the Library of CongressHistorical and chronological description of two Stones that were found in the plaza of Mexico upon the occasion of laying the new pavement Edit This book was published in 1792 In it Leon y Gama described the discovery in 1790 of two of the most important pieces of aztec art in the Zocalo main plaza of the city of Mexico the sun stone and a statue of Coatlicue an aztec goddess Leon y Gama also included in it most of his knowledge and theories on how aztecs measured time The work as opposed to authors of previous centuries praised Aztec society and their scientific and artistics achievements in line with the growing Mexican nationalism in the late 18th century It was published by Felipe de Zuniga y Ontiveros owner of one of the most important printing establishments in America at the time In addition to print the book had three folded manuscript watercolor drawings Thanks to the publication of the book Leon y Gama is considered by many the first Mexican archeologist 5 References Edit a b Leon y Gama Antonio 1792 Descripcion historica y cronologica de las dos piedras que con ocasion del nuevo empedrado que se esta formando en la plaza principal de Mexico se hallaron en ella el ano de 1790 Mexico Impr de Don F de Zuniga y Ontiveros a b c Moreno Roberto 1981 La historia antigua de Mexico de Antonio de Leon y Gama PDF Estudios de Historia Novohispana 7 Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 20 Retrieved 2009 12 17 a b Baranda Jose M 1783 Antonio de Leon y Gama PDF In Eduardo L Gallo ed Hombres ilustres mexicanos Vol 3 Mexico Imprenta de Ignacio Cumplido pp 71 78 Archived from the original PDF on 2009 06 25 Retrieved 2009 12 17 Warren J Benedict An Introductory Survey of Secular Writings in the European Tradition on Colonial Middle America 1503 1818 item 97 Antonio de Leon y Gama 1735 1802 in Handbook of Middle American Indians vol 13 Guide to Ethnohistorical Sources Howard F Cline volume editor Austin University of Texas Press 1973 pp 90 91 Historical and Chronological Description of World Digital Library Archived from the original on 28 November 2009 Retrieved 2009 12 17 External links EditWorks by or about Antonio de Leon y Gama in libraries WorldCat catalog Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antonio de Leon y Gama amp oldid 1086502349, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
