Ceramic Mayan Ballplayer (600–800 AD), with traces of Maya blue pigment, from Jaina Island or vicinity, Campeche, Mexico.

The massive padding around waist of this figure identifies him as a ballplayer. Such protection was probably made out of long cloth wrappings, atop which was attached a ribbed, wooden striking element, painted blue on this example. Hieroglyphic texts on other objects note that the balls, which were struck with the torso and hips, normally ranged from 9-12 hand-spans in circumference, explaining the need for such extensive protection. Textile motifs decorating this figure's loincloth are unusually detailed, with cut-out cross motif with a knot at center suggesting a sophisticated form of textile. His bird headdress may have been particular to his team.

Maya Ballgame, a branch of Mesoamerican Ballgame, sporting event that was played throughout Mesoamerican era by Maya civilization, which was distributed throughout much of Central America. One of common links of Mayan culture of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize is the game played with rubber ball, about which we have learned from several sources. Maya ballgame was played with big stone courts. Ball court itself was a focal point of Maya cities and symbolized city's wealth and power.

Maya Ballgame originated more than 3000 years ago. Popol Vuh describes history of K'iche' people and their rulers and mentions important position of Maya ballgame. Through this ball game, a conflict of forces of darkness and light is described and enacted. By tradition, twin brothers Hun Hunaphu and Xbalanque used their time on earth to play ball. Through noise of game aroused anger of Vucub Came, master of the underworld. A fight ensued, which resulted in the formation of the game. After the game, one of the brothers was decapitated and his head was used as the game ball. From the decapitated trunk of the player, blood escaped in the form of snakes. This blood was taken as a symbol of fertility. This scene is depicted in reliefs on the walls of game courts, such as most famous example in Chichen Itza in Mexico.

Maya ballgame was more than just an athletic event; it was also a religious event of regeneration that Maya saw as integral to their continued existence. Maya showed devotion to their gods by playing game and by sacrifices. Scholars debate about who was subject to ritual killing at ball games and how frequently. Opinions range from "Ballgame provided an opportunity to show devoutness to gods by sacrificing captured kings and high lords or losing opponents of game" to "the players were most likely not sacrificed.... sometimes a captive might be executed at the game, but [these sacrifices] weren't an integral part of the game. That person would have been expedited [executed] anyway." Uaxaclajuun Ubʼaah Kʼawiil's ritual sacrifice shows death by decapitation and disembowelment. As trophy heads were popular in Mayan Culture, it follows that they were important in ballgame. Some death heads occurred as figurines; so sacred were small sculptures that they were preserved and appear as offerings at non-elite burials in Late Classic domestic interments. Judging from sculptural portrayals, decapitation was most likely standard method of sacrifice used at ballcourts of El Tajin, Aparicio, Veracruz and Chichen Itza, Yucatan. Severing of the head is also seen in Popol Vuh. Some sources say winning team's captain was decapitated and at Chichen ìtza you can barely see that a squash and a couple of snakes representing Kukulkan popped out of sacrificed captain's head. This was an honor and the captain would have to accept a drink or food item.

The rules and manner in which the Mesoamerican ballgame was played varied among contemporary sites and evolved through time. Surviving evidence suggests human sacrifice was a frequent outcome, but the game may also have been played for other purposes, such as sport.

(34.2 x 17.8 x 11.8cm)

Princeton University Art Museum

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