More Mayan

#6- Mayan Games

The Mayans built many ball courts out of stone so that they could play games. Many were ball games, still played today in Mayan cities. But there were also other reasons. They were a good public space, being as big as they were, and many festivals and ceremonies were held here as well as game tournaments. Among these games were:          

Bul was mainly a game of pure chance. The board was made of fifteen kernels of corn which were put in one row; they then used the fourteen spaces in between the corn for the actual play. Then they burnt one side of four pieces of corn to use as dice. When they threw the corn to figure out the score they counted the burnt side but if the corn all landed with no burnt sides the player got a score of five. Each player gets five game pieces which can be represented with anything. Each player gets one piece on each side of the board. Each player was allowed to throw the dice two times in a row. Once they reached the other side of the board they turned around and started back the other way. The object of the game was to land on the opponents spot then you would have captured the opponent and he would have no way to free himself/herself. If you were playing in teams your partner wouldn’t be able to capture you but if you were captured by the opponent your partner could land on your captive and drag both of you to the end of the board then you would be free to go and your opponent’s piece would be out.

Pok-a-tok

Unlike the game of Bul, Pok-a-tok was taken very seriously and only the best of athletes could play. It was a combination of Soccer, Basketball, Racquetball, and Volleyball. It was played with a six inch rubber ball and a hoop which was placed vertically, could barely fit the ball in it and was placed twenty to thirty feet above the ground. The object was not only to get the ball in the hoop but to also keep the ball in motion. They did this with any part of their body except their hands. It was taken so seriously that only Priests could coach teams. Unlike our sports now the losing team of Pok-a-tok was executed.

#7- Mayan Saunas

 A very important part of purification to the ancient Maya was a sweat bath, or zumpul-ché. Similar to a modern sauna, sweat baths were constructed of stone walls and ceilings, with a small opening in the top of the ceiling. Water was poured onto the hot rocks in the room and created steam, offering a setting in which to sweat out impurities. Sweat baths were used for a range of conditions and situations. New mothers who had recently conceived a child would seek revitalization in them, while individuals who were sick could find healing power in sweating. Maya kings made a habit out of visiting the sweat baths as well because it left them feeling refreshed and, as they believed, cleaner.

#8- 1697 was the end of the last independent Maya state

The island city of Tayasal was the last independent Mayan kingdom. Some Spanish priests peacefully visited and preached to the last Itza king, Canek, as late as 1696. The Itza kingdom finally surrendered to Spanish rule on March 13, 1697, to forces led by Martín de Ursua, governor of Yucatán. The famous archeological site and home to the beautiful monuments was in Chichen Itza, located in this last independent region. Interestingly, much of the land under the monuments is privately owned by one family, whilst the government owns and administers the monuments themselves.

#9- 2012 is not the end of the world, according to Mayan “Calendar”

The calendar that has given rise to the myth of the end of the world is the Mayan long count calendar. According to Mayan Mythology, we are living in the fourth world or “creation”. The last creation ended on 12.19.19.17.19 of the long count calendar. That sequence will occur again on December 20, 2012. According to the Mayans this is a time of great celebration for having reached the end of a creation cycle. It does not mean the end of the world but the beginning of a new “age”.