One of the best known and most incredible of all the extant Mayan ruins, Chichn Itz contains many fascinating structures, sculptures, and architectural wonders. One of the most popular and interesting locations within the site is the Great Ballcourt, which lies at the northwest corner near the perimeter of the city. Through diligent archaeological excavation and study, experts on the history of the Maya have uncovered some fascinating details about the game which was played there, and indeed in many other cities and villages throughout Mesoamerica. Its name in the Nahuatl language is tlatchtli, and is known to have been played from at least 1,400 BCE. Although much is still uncertain and the precise details of how the game was played are not fully known scholars look to the modern-day game of ulama, a similar sport that survives in western Mexico, for comparison and clues as to the origin of this sport which held such great significance for the Mayan people.
Tlatchtli ballcourts have a distinct 'I' shaped pattern, and are popularly recognized to feature elaborately carved stone hoops, although those are actually a late addition to the game which probably popped up first in the Mayan Classic or Post-classic period. We can suppose that, before the innovation of goals, the object of tlatchtli was simply to keep the ball from dropping, much like modern-day volleyball or takraw. After the hoops were implemented, it is believed players were able to score an instant win by passing the game ball through its center a nearly impossible feat, or more commonly scored points by bouncing the ball off its sides.
The exact rules of tlatchtli have apparently been lost to the ages, but given its long lifespan, its not surprising that archaeologists have evidence of many variations and offshoots of the general concept. At different times and places, players may have used wooden bats or rackets to contact the ball, or may have been restricted to body parts like arms or thighs, with improper strikes counting against players. No examples of balls used in an actual game of tlatchtli have yet been discovered, but from paintings and writings we surmise that the game ball was rather large (weighing up to 9 lbs.). Votive balls that were created as offerings and buried in swamps or springs have been uncovered, though these are thought to be purposefully oversized and were probably never used in an actual tlatchtli match.
Real tlatchtli balls were mostly likely constructed from Guamol vines and rubber; a probably size for a typical ball would have been between 10-12 inches in diameter, weighing about 3-6 lbs. Larger balls are often shown in murals and painting of tlatchtli competitions, though it's thought the size of the balls in these pictures was intentionally exaggerated for aesthetic reasons. Ulama players often report painful and sometimes serious injuries, including huge bruises and even broken bones, accrued in the course of normal gameplay, so it is likely that tlatchtli was equally rough on the human form. Indeed, archaeological evidence seems to suggest that direct strikes to the head or abdomen could even be fatal to an unwary athlete. When ceremonial balls are depicted in Mayan artwork, they are often shown in association with the feathers of a quetzal, a bird which held great religious significance to the Maya.
Of the many tlatchtli courts that have been found throughout Mesoamerica, the Great Court at Chichn Itz is the largest by far. It measures 45 meters in width by 150 in length, with ornate hoops set well above the playing field at a daunting height for players hoping to score a direct hit. It positively dwarfs the ball court at Tikal, a similarly magnificent city whose ballcourt is only 15 meters wide. Thus, archaeologists have deduced that the court at Chichn Itz was a ceremonial one, likely hosting only the most important or impressive matches between the most proficient athletes.
The popular conception that tlatchtli games went hand in hand with human sacrifice appears to be supported by historical evidence, although this practice was perhaps more popular with the Aztecs than the Maya, having not appeared in the latter culture until the late Classical period. Artwork and sculpture from Aparicio and Chichn Itz seem to depict slaves and captives being sacrificed after losing a game, which was probably not orchestrated fairly. There are also abundant statues and paintings depicting headless ballplayers, with at least some reason to speculate that their decapitated craniums were made a part of the games in some instances.
We must rely similarly on artwork to get an idea of the uniforms worn by tlatchtli players, as no examples have endured the ravages of time. Protective padding seems to have been minimal, and experts suppose that most players wore a simple loincloth, with leather hip guards made of straps wound around he thighs as their only protection. The heft and strength of the ball, coupled with the violence surely utilized during matches in which competitors sometimes played for their very lives, must have meant that a tlatchtli player needed all of his wits, willpower, and a good dose of luck in order to prevail though perhaps the consequences of losing did much to encourage vigorous competition!
Tlatchtli ballcourts have a distinct 'I' shaped pattern, and are popularly recognized to feature elaborately carved stone hoops, although those are actually a late addition to the game which probably popped up first in the Mayan Classic or Post-classic period. We can suppose that, before the innovation of goals, the object of tlatchtli was simply to keep the ball from dropping, much like modern-day volleyball or takraw. After the hoops were implemented, it is believed players were able to score an instant win by passing the game ball through its center a nearly impossible feat, or more commonly scored points by bouncing the ball off its sides.
The exact rules of tlatchtli have apparently been lost to the ages, but given its long lifespan, its not surprising that archaeologists have evidence of many variations and offshoots of the general concept. At different times and places, players may have used wooden bats or rackets to contact the ball, or may have been restricted to body parts like arms or thighs, with improper strikes counting against players. No examples of balls used in an actual game of tlatchtli have yet been discovered, but from paintings and writings we surmise that the game ball was rather large (weighing up to 9 lbs.). Votive balls that were created as offerings and buried in swamps or springs have been uncovered, though these are thought to be purposefully oversized and were probably never used in an actual tlatchtli match.
Real tlatchtli balls were mostly likely constructed from Guamol vines and rubber; a probably size for a typical ball would have been between 10-12 inches in diameter, weighing about 3-6 lbs. Larger balls are often shown in murals and painting of tlatchtli competitions, though it's thought the size of the balls in these pictures was intentionally exaggerated for aesthetic reasons. Ulama players often report painful and sometimes serious injuries, including huge bruises and even broken bones, accrued in the course of normal gameplay, so it is likely that tlatchtli was equally rough on the human form. Indeed, archaeological evidence seems to suggest that direct strikes to the head or abdomen could even be fatal to an unwary athlete. When ceremonial balls are depicted in Mayan artwork, they are often shown in association with the feathers of a quetzal, a bird which held great religious significance to the Maya.
Of the many tlatchtli courts that have been found throughout Mesoamerica, the Great Court at Chichn Itz is the largest by far. It measures 45 meters in width by 150 in length, with ornate hoops set well above the playing field at a daunting height for players hoping to score a direct hit. It positively dwarfs the ball court at Tikal, a similarly magnificent city whose ballcourt is only 15 meters wide. Thus, archaeologists have deduced that the court at Chichn Itz was a ceremonial one, likely hosting only the most important or impressive matches between the most proficient athletes.
The popular conception that tlatchtli games went hand in hand with human sacrifice appears to be supported by historical evidence, although this practice was perhaps more popular with the Aztecs than the Maya, having not appeared in the latter culture until the late Classical period. Artwork and sculpture from Aparicio and Chichn Itz seem to depict slaves and captives being sacrificed after losing a game, which was probably not orchestrated fairly. There are also abundant statues and paintings depicting headless ballplayers, with at least some reason to speculate that their decapitated craniums were made a part of the games in some instances.
We must rely similarly on artwork to get an idea of the uniforms worn by tlatchtli players, as no examples have endured the ravages of time. Protective padding seems to have been minimal, and experts suppose that most players wore a simple loincloth, with leather hip guards made of straps wound around he thighs as their only protection. The heft and strength of the ball, coupled with the violence surely utilized during matches in which competitors sometimes played for their very lives, must have meant that a tlatchtli player needed all of his wits, willpower, and a good dose of luck in order to prevail though perhaps the consequences of losing did much to encourage vigorous competition!
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Looking to travel to Mexico? Check out the Mexico Travel Blogs at the 2Adventuretravel.com travel community. In case you're looking for a way to enjoy the majestic Mayan ruins, you can see the Chichen Itza Tour.
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