Differences between Maya and Aztec ball courts

by Mary Harrsch © 2025

While at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, California back in 2006, I photographed rubbings of reliefs that decorated the walls of the Great Ball Court of Chichen Itza built during the Early Postclassic Maya Period.

Rice paper rubbings of the reliefs that decorated the walls of the great ball court of Chichen Itza dated to the Early post-classic Maya period (950 CE - 1539 CE) photographed at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, California by Mary Harrsch

Detail of Rubbing of releif from the great ball court of Chichen Itza (95o0-1539 CE)

Detail of Rubbing of releif from the great ball court of Chichen Itza (95o0-1539 CE)

Teotihuacan-influenced vessel in the form of a ballplayer Earthenware Escuintia style Mexico or Guatemala 600 CE

The Postclassic Maya period lasted from approximately 950 CE to 1539 CE. It followed the decline of the Classic period (c. 250–900 CE) and was characterized by political fragmentation, increased militarization, and the rise of new centers such as Chichen Itza, Mayapan, and Tulum. This period ended with the Spanish conquest of the last independent Maya city, Nojpetén (Tayasal), in 1697.

Are Maya ball courts significantly different from those of the Aztec?

"Yes, Maya ball courts are significantly different from those of the Aztec in several ways:

Structure and Shape

Maya Ball Courts: Typically have a distinct I-shape, with two long parallel walls and end zones that may or may not be enclosed. The walls are often sloped, allowing the rubber ball to rebound.

Aztec Ball Courts: More open and rectangular, often without the sloped walls seen in Maya courts.

Size

Maya courts vary in size, with some being massive (e.g., the Great Ball Court at Chichen Itza, which is about 146 meters long).

Aztec courts were generally smaller, possibly because the game had evolved into more of a ritual spectacle rather than a large-scale sport.

Symbolism and Ritual Use

Maya: The ballgame (Pok-A-Tok or Pitz) was deeply tied to their creation myths and the Popol Vuh, often linked to themes of life, death, and the underworld. Some courts have markers showing decapitation scenes, suggesting human sacrifice was sometimes involved.

Aztec: The game was still ritualistic but more associated with political and military power. While human sacrifice might have occurred, it wasn’t as central as in some Maya contexts.

Hoops and Goals

Maya courts: Many feature vertical stone rings mounted high on the walls, but these were likely added later and may not have been part of the original game.

Aztec courts: Often had open-ended spaces without rings or with ground-level goals, reflecting a different style of play.

Both civilizations shared the core concept of the Mesoamerican ballgame, but the Maya courts were often grander and more integrated into their religious and cosmological beliefs."

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Late Classic Maya ceramics combine practical function with artistic expression and rich symbolic content

by Mary Harrsch © 2025

Maya ceramics of the late Classical Period always have such fascinating scenes of life (usually the elite) and their mythology. The de Young Museum in San Francisco has a wonderful collection of pre-Colombian artifacts and I had the opportunity to photograph them back in 2006."Late Classic Maya ceramics (roughly 600-900 CE) represent one of the high points of pre-Columbian art. These vessels combined practical function with remarkable artistic expression and rich symbolic content.

The most distinctive ceramics from this period are polychrome vessels, especially cylindrical vases used for drinking chocolate by the elite. These featured vibrant colors (red, orange, black, white, and yellow) with intricate scenes depicting royal court life, mythological narratives, and religious ceremonies. Artists used fine-line painting techniques to create astonishingly detailed compositions. I photographed these wonderful ceramics way back in 2006 at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, California with a very early digital camera.

The "Palace Scene" vessels show elaborately dressed nobles engaged in various courtly activities. Other common themes include the Hero Twins from the Popol Vuh creation story, supernatural beings, and scenes of ritual sacrifice.

Many vessels contain hieroglyphic texts identifying their owners, contents, or purpose. The "Primary Standard Sequence" was a dedicatory formula often written around the rim of elite drinking vessels.

Codex-style pottery, named for its resemblance to Maya manuscripts, featured cream backgrounds with reddish-brown or black line drawings. These vessels often depicted supernatural scenes and deities.

Ceramic production was generally organized in workshops associated with major political centers like Tikal, Copan, and Palenque, each developing distinct regional styles. The decline of Late Classic ceramic production coincided with the broader Maya collapse around 900 CE.

These vessels weren't just functional objects but served as important status markers, diplomatic gifts, and ritual items, providing us with invaluable insights into Maya elite culture and religious beliefs.

Earthenware vase with warriors and captive, Mexico, Chama style, Late Classic Maya, 600-800 CE photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch	Codex-style cup with Teotihuacan war headdress Central Maya Area 8th century CE earthenware photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch	Codex-style jar with fleur-de-lis and cacao glyph Central Maya area Late Classic Period 600-800 CE Earthenware photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch
Cylinder vase of a goddess Maya Late Classic Period Mexico 8th century CE earthenware photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch	Earthenware vase with reclining monkey scribe carving a mask, Central Maya area, Late Classic Maya, 600-900 CE photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch	Earthenware cylindrical vessel depicting ruler with mirror, Mexico, Central Lowlands, 8th century CE photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch
Pendant with prisoners, Central Maya area, Late Classic Maya, 600-800 CE, shell with pigment photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch	Vase with bent prisoner and knife earthenware Late Classic Maya 600-900 CE photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch	Earthenware plate with decapitated Maize God head, Central Maya Area, Late Classic Maya 600-900 CE photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch
Earthenware with stucco vase with enthroned Maize God, Mexico, Late Classic Maya 500-900 CE photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch	Vase for pouring chocolate earthenware Belize Late Classic Maya Altun-Ha style photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch	Earthenware plate with dancing Maize god, Central Maya area, Late Classic Maya, 600-900 CE photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch
Earthenware polychrome cylinder vase, Mexico, Central Maya area, Late Classic Maya, 600-800 CE photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch	Earthenware bowl, Central Maya area, Late Classic Maya, 600-900 CE photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch	Earthenware Codex-style plate in three divisions, Central Maya Area, Late Classic Maca 600-900 CE  photographed at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA by Mary Harrsch

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