Mesoamerican Ballgames

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​Aztecs Ball Games

 

The Aztec ball games were known as Asullamalizti. The Judges, spectators, and nobles surrounded the ball court, which was usually shaped like a capital I. The court included skull tracks, also known as tzompantli. The ball was called the ulli. Players wore deerskin guards for the chin, thigh, hips, cheeks, and hands. Spectators would gamble, and it was very common and frequent amongst them. They would gamble land, feathers, children, and even sell themselves into slavery to pay off their debt.The games were meant to mirror the ball court of the heavens. The games were symbolical to the “battle between day and night.” They were said to be meant to keep the sun in the sky. The balls were said to be the head of a sacrificed human. The ball game itself was an illustration of human sacrifice, but it was considered to be an honor to be sacrificed. Opponents were different city-states and tribes. Aztec ball games were very significant in the political aspect. The games settled disputes against political parties and served as excuses for assassinations. The winning king would be assassinated when the loser congratulated the king with a garland with a leather strangling cord hidden inside.

 

Mayan Ball Games

The Mayan ball may have been much larger than the Aztec ball. The Aztec and Mayan games were equally as deadly, but in the Mayan games, the leader of the losing team would be killed, and his skull was used as the core of the next rubber ball to be made. The goal of keep the ball from touching the ground may have been symbolic to maintaining the Sun’s orbit. The captivation and sacrifice of a nobleman was the climax of the game because his blood was considered to be very powerful.

 

Carribean

Evidence of Mesoamerican ball games were found in the Carribean, such as present-day Pueto Rico and Dominican Republic. These islands received their first indigenous settlement due to peoples from the South American region to the islands.

 

Teotihuacan

The Teotihuacan had no ball court and were purposefully inconsistent with their chosen identity. The teotihuacan Ball Games were the ritualization of a conflict situation.