This Mayan Stone Hacha would have played a
role in the ritual practice of a ball game, which
had great ceremonial significance in the daily
lives of ancient Mesoamericans. The ball game,
perhaps ritually signifying the transit of the sun
and moon between the celestial and terrestrial
spheres, was an important event in
Mesoamerican 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, relief sculptures 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.
- (PH.0279)
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