大象传媒

Watch: Maya ball games

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What was pitz?

One of the many things the ancient Maya are remembered for is their ball game, which they called pitz.

  • This game is more than 3,000 years old.
  • 300 courts have been found, and they were in the shape of a capital 鈥楲鈥.

Maya ball courts

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 6, Two Maya ball players having an argument on a ball court, Take a look at some of the different Maya ball courts from around the Maya world.
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Pitz rules

The rules of the Maya ball game
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Why did they play pitz?

Three Maya gods in the sky.
  • The ball game was not played for enjoyment.

  • The main reason was to keep the gods happy.

  • People believed that the game was played instead of going to war.

  • Human sacrifice was probably part of the games, with perhaps the losing captain or captured kings sacrificed to the gods.

Three Maya gods in the sky.
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Activities

Activity 1: Quiz 鈥 Maya games

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Activity 2: History Explorer game

Play this game to test your knowledge and learn even more facts about the ancient Maya.

History Explorer: Secrets through time

History Explorer: Secrets through time: KS2 History

History Explorer: Secrets through time
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Bitesize Primary games. game

Play fun and educational primary games in science, maths, English, history, geography, art, computing and modern languages.

Bitesize Primary games
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More on Maya Civilisation

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