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by Doomraider on October 14th, 2005

Doomraider

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What kinds of sports did the Aztecs, Mayans, Incas and ancient Egyptians play?

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  • by Archaeologist on January 14th, 2006

    Archaeologist

    The Aztecs and Maya enjoyed a variety of sports. The most common were games of "temple ball", which go by several different names. These were ritual games, usually played with very large inflated bladders (some believe that they were heavy, like medicine balls, others that they were light, like playground balls), which are believed (based upon wall paintings and frescoes) to have included elements of what we might recognize as being peculiar to soccer/football, and basketball, today.

    We aren't really sure how the games were played, beyond the images I just alluded to, we do believe that one could win the game, or at least score, by forcing the ball through a large stone ring. How one got the ball through the ring is also somewhat debated. Some believe it was kicked, others manipulated with anything but the hands, etc.

    In some cases, the winning team was sacrificed; in other cases, the losing team was sacrificed; a few games seem to have been friendly affairs, but they were almost always played in honor of religious festivals.

    The Egyptians don't seem to have taken to organized sports, on the whole. Howard Carter believed that Tut enjoyed a form of "Lawn Bowling", but the evidence for this is highly circumstantial. We do know that they enjoyed a wide variety of boardgames, including a form of Chess (Wad'jet), and that they were avid fans of Archery.

    Perhaps the most popular Egyptian "sport" was hunting. Anyone who was anyone loved hunting. Even a few lucky commoners. Many rulers were entombed with their favorite hunting chariots, bows, even dogs!
    Tutankhamun certainly enjoyed hunting - particularly duck. He was buried with several dozen cleaned and specially prepared roast wild ducks for the afterlife.

    Comments

    • provides fascinating perspective into some ancient cultures

      LynfromNM

      by LynfromNM on March 12th, 2006

    • The Egyptians also played backgammon, as did the Chinese. Chess is believed to have its roots in the Indus valley - to think it persevered and seems to have been brought to Britain twice: by the Romans, and then later by the Saxons. Interior Africa also played backgammon and some other board games, as did Sumeria. Certainly in the ancient world, gaming traditions moved about as freely as language and trade goods.

      cunning stunt who u calling chicken

      by cunning stunt who u calling chicken on November 17th, 2008

    • The author of this answer seems to be quite knowledgeable in this area. I'm curious as to his thoughts (or anyone else) with regard to whether or not the Incas played "temple ball".

      abbieg

      by abbieg on March 24th, 2009

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