The Aztec ball game, Ullamaliztli, had a lot of ritual significance. The game represented the battle between day and night, and
so was also related to the human blood sacrifices that were intended to keep the sun moving in the sky. In Tenochtitlan, the ball court was at the foot of the blood stained stairs of the temple, and the ball game itself would often be a scene of sacrifice. It is believed that the losing coach, or even the whole team, might be sacrificed. Some historians have disputed this - because it was an honour to be sacrificed, it may have been the winning team that lost their lives.
Would you play the Aztec ball game knowing what you now know? Why or why not?
I would not play the Aztec game knowing what I know because I think it is a very violent and harsh game. I also think it would be very difficult to win having all that pressure on you.
