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, 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 calendars.[1][2]
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Antonio de León y Gama was born in 1735 from a jurist in the city of Mexico, who was notable due to being the author of a book on contracts. 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.[2][3]
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.[2][3]
Some of his works are
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 Zócalo, 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.[4]