WHI-Chap6/21-Mesoamerican ball game

This famous ball game origionally was begun with the Olmecs. After their decline, other civiliztions such as the maya zealously took up its practice. The object of the game was to put a solid rubber ball through a ring on an inclined wall using only using the body withought the use of hands. This game was extremely popular with the mayans and almost every city, town, and ceremonial center had one where players often performed publicly. The maya played the game for several reasons. It sometimes was used as pure sport, but in others it was used to represent maya political afairs such as a ritual that honored the conclusion of treaties. Captives often played the game with their lives at stake. Even in the realm of sports did the mayans use the shedding of blood to honor the gods.

Made by Jack Russ Return to Main Page