The mesoamerican ball game One of the most famous and important game’s in Mayan culture included the Mesoamerican ball game. This culture existed since the 1400 and even exists in some areas today.
For centuries MesoAmerica was home to some of the worlds most advanced civilization. MesoAmerica is the sub-tropical region located between North America and South America. Playing the Mesoamerican ball game resulted very tough since you had to hit the ball with your hip. The Mayan Ball Game was a solemn experience, filled with ritual importance. Religious leaders attended, as did most chieftains and other government leaders. Sacred songs were sung and played. Other religious activities took place as well. The winners of the game were treated as heroes and given a great feast. The penalty for losing a game was sometimes unusually harsh: death. The leader of the team who lost the game was sometimes killed. This fit in with the Mayan belief that human sacrifice was necessary for the continued success of the peoples' agriculture, trade, and overall health. |
The rules
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