"In Nahuatl languages: ōllamalīztli, Nahuatl pronunciation: [oːlːamaˈlistɬi], Mayan languages: pitz."
A team sport played on a court where players tried to get a rubber ball through a vertical hoop.
Mesoamerican Ballgame History: The history and origins of the ballgame, dating back over 3,500 years.
Ballcourt Architecture: The design and construction of the ancient ballcourts, including the use of specific building materials, such as limestone and stucco.
Ballgame Mechanics: The rules and gameplay of the Mesoamerican ballgame, including how the ball was hit, how points were scored, and how the game was won.
Ballgame Equipment: The equipment used to play the game, including the ball and protective clothing worn by players.
Religiosity: The religious and spiritual significance of the ballgame to ancient Mesoamerican societies, including offerings and sacrifices made to the gods.
Social Significance: The social and cultural significance of the ballgame to ancient Mesoamerican societies, including its role in trade, diplomacy, and warfare.
Gender Dynamics: The roles of men and women in the ancient ballgame, including the involvement of women as players, spectators, and potentially even referees.
Symbolism and Iconography: The various symbols and images associated with the ballgame, including depictions of players, the ball, and other important elements of gameplay.
Continuation and Revival: The continued practice of the Mesoamerican ballgame in modern times and efforts to revive the ancient sport, both as a physical activity and as a cultural heritage.
Maya Ballgame: This was the most popular ballgame in Mesoamerica, played by the Maya civilization. It involved two teams attempting to score points by hitting a ball through a hoop using their hips, knees, or elbows.
Aztec Ballgame: The Aztec version of the ballgame, also known as ullamaliztli, was played on a rectangular court with two teams hitting a rubber ball with their hips or forearms.
Teotihuacan Ballgame: The Teotihuacan ballgame was a variation of the game played in Teotihuacan, an ancient city located in modern-day Mexico. It was played on a circular court with players hitting the ball with their elbows or knees.
Zapotec Ballgame: The Zapotec ballgame was played in the Oaxaca Valley, in southern Mexico. It was played with a rubber ball and involved players hitting the ball with their hips or forearms.
Tarascan Ballgame: The Tarascan ballgame, also known as purépecha or uarhúkua, was played by the Tarascan people in western Mexico. It involved two teams hitting a ball with their hips, knees, or forearms.
Mixtec Ballgame: The Mixtec ballgame was played in the Mixtec region of Mexico. Like the other ballgames, it involved hitting a ball with various body parts, but it was also unique in that it involved playing with a ball made of bejuco, or vines.
Tlaxcala Ballgame: The Tlaxcala ballgame was played in Tlaxcala, a region in central Mexico. It was similar to the Aztec ballgame, but it involved teams of three players.
Huastec Ballgame: The Huastec ballgame was played by the Huastec people, who lived in the present-day states of Veracruz, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas in eastern Mexico. It involved hitting a ball with the hips and was notable for being played with two balls at once.
"Played since at least 1650 BC."
"A modernized version of the game, ulama, is still played by the indigenous populations in some places."
"The rules of the Mesoamerican ballgame are not known."
"They were probably similar to racquetball."
"In the most common theory of the game, the players struck the ball with their hips."
"Although some versions allowed the use of forearms, rackets, bats, or handstones."
"The ball was made of solid rubber."
"It could weigh as much as four kilograms (8.8 lb)."
"The Mesoamerican ballgame had important ritual aspects, and major formal ballgames were held as ritual events."
"Late in the history of the game, some cultures occasionally seem to have combined competitions with religious human sacrifice."
"The sport was also played casually for recreation by children."
"Pre-Columbian ballcourts have been found throughout Mesoamerica, as for example at Copán, as far south as modern Nicaragua, and possibly as far north as what is now the U.S. state of Arizona."
"These ballcourts vary considerably in size."
"All have long narrow alleys."
"Side-walls against which the balls could bounce in."
"The sport had different versions in different places during the millennia."
"Competition was a major aspect of the game, as evidenced by ballcourts found all over the region."
"...may have been played by women as well."
"as far south as modern Nicaragua, and possibly as far north as what is now the U.S. state of Arizona."