Antonio de León y Gama
Encyclopedia
Antonio de León y Gama was a Mexican astronomer, anthropologist and writer. When in 1790 the Aztec calendar stone (also called sun stone) was discovered, 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 upon the occasion of laying the new pavement) explaining the functioning of aztec calendar
s.
in the city of Mexico, who was notable due to being the author of a book on contract
s. His mother died at delivery. He did not leave the city of Mexico
in his whole life, which ended in 1802. Between 1753 and 1755 he attended to the San Ildefonso law school achieving a degree. In 1758 entered to work at the Real Audiencia of Mexico
where he stayed all his professional career. He was commented to be poor and have had many descendants.
Antonio de León y Gama wrote works in different fields of science, such as astrology, medicine, or history, although he is most
known for his description of the discovery of the sun stone.
Some of his works are
, 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 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 Leon y Gama is considered by many the first Mexican archeologist.
Aztec calendar
The Aztec calendar is the calendar system that was used by the Aztecs as well as other Pre-Columbian peoples of central Mexico. It is one of the Mesoamerican calendars, sharing the basic structure of calendars from throughout ancient Mesoamerica....
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Life
Antonio de León y Gama was born in 1735 from a juristJurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
in the city of Mexico, who was notable due to being the author of a book on contract
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
s. His mother died at delivery. He did not leave the city of Mexico
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in his whole life, which ended in 1802. Between 1753 and 1755 he attended to the San Ildefonso law school achieving a degree. In 1758 entered to work at the Real Audiencia of Mexico
Real Audiencia of Mexico
The Royal Audience of Mexico was the highest tribunal of the Spanish crown in the Kingdom of New Spain or the Kingdom of Mexico...
where he stayed all his professional career. He was commented to be poor and have had many descendants.
Works
known for his description of the discovery of the sun stone.
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 the 24 of June of 1778)
- Observaciones meteorológicas (Meteorological observations) in Gaceta Mexicana, February of 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 the 14th of November of 1789) in Gaceta Mexicana, October of 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 of 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 cancerCancerCancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. - Respuesta satisfactoria (Satisfactory answer), 1783.
- History:
- 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).
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 Leon y Gama described the discovery in 1790 of two of the most important pieces of aztec art in the ZócaloZócalo
The Zócalo is the main plaza or square in the heart of the historic center of Mexico City. The plaza used to be known simply as the "Main Square" or "Arms Square," and today its formal name is Plaza de la Constitución...
, main plaza of the city of Mexico: the sun stone and a statue of Coatlicue
Coatlicue
Coatlicue, also known as Teteoinan , "The Mother of Gods" , is the Aztec goddess who gave birth to the moon, stars, and Huitzilopochtli, the god of the sun and war...
, 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 Zúñiga y Ontiveros
Felipe de Zúñiga y Ontiveros
Felipe de Zúniga y Ontiveros was a scientist, cartographer and publisher in New Spain during the Spanish colonial period. He was also royal land surveyor and hydraulic and mining engineer....
, 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.