A History of the World in 100 Objects
Ceremonial ballgame belt
May 26, 2010
Explore the ancient ball game in central America with a heavy stone belt as the ceremonial object. Learn about the rules of the game and its religious connections. Discover the history and cultural significance of the game in Mesoamerican cultures and its impact on collective identity.
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Quick takeaways
- The ancient Central American ball game served as a representation of the cosmic struggle between life and death and was closely associated with religious beliefs.
- The stone belts used in the ball game featured the image of a toad, symbolizing the Earth goddess, and had a broader ritualistic meaning beyond just being protective gear for the players.
Deep dives
The Central American ball game and its religious significance
The podcast discusses the ancient Central American ball game and its close association with religious beliefs. The game was the world's earliest known team sport, played with rubber around 2000 years ago. The heavy rubber ball, weighing up to 30 pounds, had to be kept in the air and landed in the opponent's court using only buttocks, forearms, and hips. The padded belts made of cloth or basket work worn by players protected their hips. The stone belts found in excavations were likely ceremonial objects, representing real yokes made of perishable materials that did not survive. The game symbolized the cosmic struggle between life and death, and its intensity reflected Mesoamericans' beliefs about the gods and the Lords of Death.
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