Mexico City locals in the northern neighbourhood of Azcapotzalco are bringing back an ancient Mesoamerican tradition with a modern twist. The town recently built a brand new community centre called Xochikialli which has been designed to teach pre-hispanic traditions. This includes lessons in Xilam, an ancient Aztec form of martial arts and classes for people who want to learn Nahuatl, the original Aztec language. The main event, though, is the court that has been built just outside the building.
A Mexican man in pre-hispanic Aztec costume play the ball during a traditional “Juego de Pelota” (in Spanish) at the Xcaret eco-park in Xcaret, Mexico. Photo by: LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images
If you arrive in Xochikialli during one of the training sessions, you’ll likely see people wearing leather belts on their hips and chasing a 9-pound rubber ball around. The court they’re playing on was built for the pan-Mesoamerican ballgame known as Ulama.
The rules that are in use now are descended from the Aztec version of the game. Players must move the ball only with their hips, hence the leather belt to protect from heavy bruising. With such a heavy ball, it often bounces very low. Imagine trying to hit a ball bouncing only an inch or two off of the ground using only your hips. Players are often required to slide across the court to get low enough. Teams receive points when the opposition knock the ball out of bounds and they lose points when their opponents score. The first team to get eight points wins.
Remnants of the game can be found at ancient ruins around Mexico including Chichen Itza, Monte Alban, and Teotihuacan. Look for the wide grass courts and the large concrete rings. It is said to be the oldest continuously played sport in the world. Archaeologists believe the game may have been played as early as 200 AD.
It wasn’t all fun and games back then. It was thought to have originally been a religious activity and only later did it turn into something recreational. There are event texts that exist from Aztec times that mention the game being a decider of wars. Kings pitted against kings to determine the fate of their people.
The locals at the Xochikialli community centre aren’t taking it quite as seriously. Instead, they’re using it as a place to learn about their country’s culture and partake in a sport that has so much history here.
By, Laura Bronner
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