[Aztlan] Ballgame

[lahunik.62 at skynet.be]

I want to cite Fray Bernardino de Sahagun:

"In the early days the kings played the ballgame as a pastime.

Therefore they used a ball of olli. It was made of resin or rubber, which
they called olli.

It was played by distinguished lords.

They played for golden jewelry, slaves, valuable coats, houses.

The playground was called tlaxtli or tlachtli, and was surrounded by two
walls, twenty or thirty feet from each other. The walls and the ground were
chalked in white and d they were eight and a half feet long. The playground
was divided in two by a line in the middle.

In the middle of the walls were two hollowed stones, as a milestone.

The two stone were opposite of each other with a hole in the middle big
enough for the ball.

The player who could throw the ball through the whole was the winner.

They didn't play with their hands but with their hips.

They wore gloves en their hips were protected by a leather short."

Historia general de las cosas de Nueva Espana, Part II, Book VIII, Cap.X,
p.297.

Xolotl was the God of the Ballgame.

Navallachco ollamaya Xolotl, on the playground Xolotl played the ballgame.

The ballgame was played by two players, so Xolotl was accepted as God of the
Twins.

In fact duality was the true nature of the Mexica and the mythological
values whereupon the whole society was based.

So the highest office was divided under two lords, the Tlahtoani or
Tlacatecuihtli and the Cihuacoatl. This proves that Mexica-society was not
subject to a despotic rule of a monarch, but organized after the principles
of a military democracy. They were a barbarous but free and warlike
community. 

Every lord, Tlahtoani or Cihuacoatl had to prove himself before the council
and for everyone that he was a brave and good fighter and soldier. Not only
on the battlefield but also on the playground the lords had to prove their
ability before a select public of the council.   

Lahun Ik 62

Baert Georges

Flanders Fields