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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