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.
Constructed in the Toltec style of architecture and surrounded by hundreds of massive, limestone columns, The Temple of the Warriors and the adjacent Temple of the Jaguar make up the expansive "Thousand Columns" section of the ancient city of Xichen Itza.
