Page 24 - All About History - Issue 54-17

AZTECS

How to

PLAY A GAME OF TLACHTLI

THE GREAT MESOAMERICAN PAST TIME WAS A BRUTAL BALL GAME THAT OFTEN ENDED WITH
THE LOSING TEAM BEING SACRIFICED TO THE GODS CENTRAL AMERICA, 1200 BCE - 1521

Tlachtli, as the Aztecs called it, is the Religious significance
world’s oldest known team sport. It was As sun worshippers, the ball game was
first played by the Olmec civilisation, which played to mimic the battle of the sun
thrived between 1200 BCE and 400 BCE, against the moon and stars.
before being passed down to the Maya
and Aztec people. Tlachtli was played by Slam-dunk
teams of two to four, who hit the ball back The aim of the game was to keep the ball
and forth across a central line, similar to moving over a line, but the Maya added
the hoop for extra scoring points.
netball. But the ball could only be passed
between players using their knees, elbows, Contact sport
or hips — never the hands or feet. A fast-
Playing on a stone-floored court, scrapes
paced and high-impact sport, the stakes and bruises were common. If the rubber
were very high as the losing team were ball hit unprotected body parts, it could
sometimes beheaded. cause internal bleeding.

Protective clothing
Players wore padded belts known as
‘yokes’ as well as kneepads and arm
WHAT YOU’LL
coverings to protect themselves.
NEED…
BALL Sacred court
The court was a special place. In the Aztec
capital Tenochtitlán, there was a court in
the sacred precinct with the great temple.

HOOP

OBSIDIAN KNIFE
FOR RITUAL SACRIFICE

COURTT

CONSTRUCT A COURT MAKE A BALL
When your tribe moves to a new settlement, the first The ball for the game is made of hard, solid rubber.
01 thing you must do (after erecting a shrine to the god 02 It weighs about four kilograms (nine pounds) and to
Huitzilopochtli, of course), is build a Tlachtli court. Construct get one, you’ll need to go and see your village’s expert rubber
ANYTHING TO BET, SUCH AS a large I shape, with a central area for play and sloped sides to maker. These Aztec artisans mix a blend of natural latex (a
milky-like substance found in some plants) with juice from
bounce the ball off. Add two hoops on either side, then make
LAND OR ORNATE OBJECTS sure there are places for spectators and betting. morning glory plants to make the ball extra bouncy.

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