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.
This is one of the later style hachas that were
typically flatter than the earlier examples that
were larger and rounder. Some scholars believe
that the origin of hachas might be traced back to
trophy heads.
- (CK.0297)
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