What games did the Maya play?

Watch: Maya ball games

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What do we know about pitz?

One of the many things the ancient Maya are remembered for is their ball game, which they called pitz.

This game is more than 3,000 years old.
300 courts have been found, and they were in the shape of a capital ‘L’.

The ball courts of the ancient Maya world

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Take a look at some of the different Maya ball courts from around the Maya world.
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This is a ball court located in Palenque. It was likely built between AD350-500, which means it is probably one of the oldest in existence.
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This is the ball court of Yaxchilan. It was originally decorated with five stone discs which showed images of ancient ancestors. Each ancestor was shown sitting on the head of a huge monster.
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This is the ball court in Copan. It was demolished and rebuilt three times, the latest version dating back to AD738.
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This ball court in Tikal is located right next to the towering Temple of the Great Jaguar. The court is one of the smallest in Maya history.
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This is the ‘Great Maya ball court’ in Chichén Itzá. It was completed in the 9th century and is one of the largest ball courts ever discovered (far bigger than a modern football pitch).

How did they play pitz?

They built large ball courts and often played in front of crowds.

Lots of spectators gathered on the high platforms on either side, which were decorated with painted murals depicting warriors, rituals and ceremonies.

The game lasted two weeks. They used a rubber ball which was not meant to touch the ground. The aim of the game was to get the ball to the other side of the court or to make the other team drop the ball. The players wore leather protective clothing and sometimes a ritual head dress.

The ball games we play today are much less deadly, but there are still some similarities. For example, the Maya players had to work together as a team, usually consisting of between 2-6 players.

Why did the Maya have ball games?

The ball game was not played for enjoyment. The main reason was to keep the gods happy. People believed that the game was played instead of going to war.

Human sacrifice was probably part of the games, with perhaps the losing captain or captured kings sacrificed to the gods.

Activities

Activity 1: Quiz – Maya games

Activity 2: History Explorer game

Play this game to test your knowledge and learn even more facts about the ancient Maya.