Ancient Maya Made Ceremonial Offerings At Ballcourts In Mexico To Bless Sports Grounds: Study

Mayan civilizations blessed their sports grounds in Mexico with ceremonial offerings such as ornamental plants. In these ballcourts, Mesoamerican ballgame, also known as Ollamaliztli, was played.

Ancient Maya, who were Mesoamerican Indians living in southern Mexico, Guatemala, and northern Belize from as early as 1500 BCE, made ceremonial offerings at ballcourts in Mexico. They did so to bless the sports grounds, a new study has found. ( Image Source :Dallas Museum of Art via University of Cincinnati )

Ancient Maya, who were Mesoamerican Indians living in southern Mexico, Guatemala, and northern Belize from as early as 1500 BCE, made ceremonial offerings at ballcourts in Mexico. They did so to bless the sports grounds, a new study has found. In these ballcourts, Mesoamerican ballgame, also known as Ollamaliztli, was played. This was a sport associated with rituals, and was played from at least 1650 BC by the pre-Columbian people of Ancient Mesoamerica. Mesoamerica spanned from the southern