The Great Ball Court of Xichen Itza measures 545 feet long by 225 feet wide overall. While the floor of the ballcourt has now all but grown over with grass, a few patches remain where we can still see the original tile floor. While little is known for certain about the Mayans great, ceremonial ball game, as no one has seen it in person, the Mayans left us many clues as to the rules of the game in the carvings on the walls of the ballcourt. It is believed that the game was played with a heavy, rubber ball, much like a modern medicine ball. The ball could not be handled by a player's hands, and had to be kicked through the large stone rings near the tops of the walls of the opposite sides of the ballcourt.
While little is known for certain about the Mayans great, ceremonial ball game, as no one has seen it in person, the Mayans left us many clues as to the rules of the game in the carvings on the walls of the ballcourt. It is believed that the game was played with a heavy, rubber ball, much like a modern medicine ball. The ball could not be handled by a player's hands, and had to be kicked through the large stone rings near the tops of the walls of the opposite sides of the ballcourt.
While little is known for certain about the Mayans great, ceremonial ball game, as no one has seen it in person, the Mayans left us many clues as to the rules of the game in the carvings on the walls of the ballcourt. Here we see the intricate costumes worn by the players, including one sandal and one full shoe. We also know from these carvings that one of the players was presented for sacrifice at the end of the game. It is believed that this is the captain of the winning team, thereby winning a direct ticket to Heaven, instead of going through the 13 steps that the Mayans believed that one must complete to earn their way into Heaven. This sacrifice was performed by means of decapitation.
