The ball game, perhaps ritually signifying the
transit of the sun and moon between the
celestial and terrestrial spheres, was an
important event in Meso-American culture,
considered necessary to maintain the cosmic
cycle. The game was both a sport and a
sacrificial ritual. Made out of heavy stone, the
hacha was possibly used as an extra burden of
weight to test the physical prowess of the player.
In fact, reliefs and terracotta figures show axe-
shaped objects attached to ball-players’ belts,
which were used as deflectors and protectors.
The game itself used a large rubber ball that
could be hit by the elbows, knees or hips but
could not be touched by the hands or feet. This
is one of the earliest types of hachas that were
characteristically larger and rounder than later
flat examples. Some scholars believe that the
origin of hachas might be traced back to trophy
heads. This magnificent hacha depicts the head
of a man covered in a mask representing an
avian deity with a hooked nose. The stone has
been masterfully carved to reveal the contours of
his eyelids beneath the eyeholes of the mask. In
addition, the high cheekbones and grimacing
glare convey a powerful expression befitting of
such a mythological God. The beauty and
intricate carving of this hacha reveals the
ceremonial significance of the ball game in the
daily lives of Ancient Meso-Americans.
- (PF.5964)
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