Mexicans Revive 3,000-Year-Old Ballgame at Teotihuacan Ruins
Mexicans Revive 3,000-Year-Old Ballgame at Teotihuacan Ruins
The over 3,000-year-old ball game was played in the pre-Colombian era. | Photo: EFE
Published 16 April 2017
In the ancient ballgame, the motion of the ball symbolizes the rotation of the sun for the Aztez, Olmeca and Mayan people.
In a bid to celebrate Mexican heritage, a group of Mexicans organized and participated on Saturday in the national championship for the Mesoamerican Ballgame in the middle of the grounds surrounding Teotihuacan, the pre-Hispanic city outside of Mexico City.
The pre-Colombian Mesoamerican Ballgame stretches back to roughly 1500 BCE. Gameplay varies among different versions of the game, and debate lingers over how the original participants actually played the game several thousands of years ago. Versions played at the championship center on trying to keep a rubber ball in play through knocking it from the hips towards the other team. Failure to keep the ball in play results in the opposing team garnering a point.
More:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Mexicans-Revive-3000-Year-Old-Ballgame-at-Teotihuacan-Ruins-20170416-0009.html
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Mexico revives 3,000-year-old ancient ball game
16 April 2017
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Organisers have been trying to bring back the game, known as Ullamaliztli in Mexico, because of its ancient cultural and religious significance.
The game was played across Central America before being banned by the Spanish conquistadors.
The tournament, only the second since 2006, is being played by ten teams from across Mexico.
According to ancient texts the ball game was seen as a struggle between light and darkness and provided the energy to keep humanity going.
More:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-39612317
