Classic PeriodReputable sourceWell documented
The Mesoamerican Ball Game
On the timeline · around Classic Period ·
What happened
The Maya played a ritual ball game on stone courts, driving a heavy rubber ball with their hips through the effort of two teams. More than sport, it re-enacted myth and cosmic struggle — and could end in the sacrifice of the losers.
Why it matters
The ball game bound sport, religion and politics together across Mesoamerica for millennia, its courts found in nearly every major Maya city.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. The Ball Game of Mesoamerica · Reputable source