Pisté in Tinum, Yucatán, Mexico — The Southeast (Yucatan Peninsula)
The Great Ball Court
El Gran Juego de Pelota
Es la cancha de juego más grande de Mesoamérica. Cuenta con dos largas construcciones laterales, donde se ubican los anillos de piedra con imágenes de serpientes emplumadas y el talud con escenas de sacrificio de jugadores de pelota: dos muros en forma de U que cierran los extremos de la cancha. Sobre ellos, se conservan dos edificios ricamente decorados con relieves y pintruas. Al lado este, el Templo de los Jaguares y Escudos presenta procesiones de señores y escenas de batalla que ofrecen una viva imagen de la historia de Chichén Itzá.
El tamaño de la cancha y la altura de los anillos hacen poco probable que se hayan aplicado, en este caso, las reglas del juego de cadera conocidas en el momento de la conquista.
Maya-Yucateco:
Leti’ u jach nojochil u kúuchil báaxal ti’ tuláakal Mesoamérica. Yaan ka’a p’éel nukuch pak’ tu tzéelikilo’ob, te’elo’ yaan u dzipitilo’ob tuunich tu’ux yaan u yoochel k’u’uk’um kaano’ob, tu pak’il ikil u yéemele’ yaan oochelo’ob e’esik bix u kiinsa’al le aj báaxalo’obo; yaan ka’a p’éel pak’o’ob k’alik le kúuchil báaxalo’. Yóok’ol tuláakal lela’ yaan ka’a p’éel najo’ob jadzutzkíinta’an yéetel ya’abkach oochelo’ob. Tu tzéel lak’inile’ tia’an u k’ul najil chak mo’olo’ob yéetel k’atuno’ob tu’ux ku yila’al u tzol xíimbal nukuch máako’ob yéetel u yoochel ba’ate’obi’, lela’ jun p’éel chíikul ti’ u k’ajla’ay Chi’ ch’e’en Itzá.
U nojochil le kúuchil báaxal yéetel u ka’analil le dzipito’obo’ ku taal u ye’es jach talam ka’aj úuchuk l báaxal je’e bix k’aj óolta’anil le ka’aj taal le sak wíiniko’obo.
English:
This is the largest ball court in Mesoamerica. It is formed by a long wall on each side, with embedded rings or hoops carved with images of plumed serpents. The slightly sloping walls are decorated with scenes of the sacrifice of ball players. At each end of the U-shaped court there are low walls supporting buildings richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. To the east, the Temple of Jaguars and Shields presents processions of dignitaries and battle scenes that offer a vivid image of the history of Chichén Itzá.
The size of the court and the height of the rings indicate that, in this case, it is not likely that the ball was hit through the ring by the hip alone, although such game rules were generally applicable at the time of the conquest.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Man-Made Features • Native Americans • Sports.
Location. 20° 41.038′ N, 88° 34.198′ W. Marker is in Pisté, Yucatán, in Tinum. Marker can be reached from Carretera Costera de Golfo (Route 180). The marker is located at the southeast corner of the Great Ball Court at Chichén Itzá Archaeological Site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pisté YU 97751, Mexico. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Platform of Eagles and Jaguars (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Castle or Temple of Kukulcán (about 120 meters away); The Temple of the Warriors (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Temple of the Large Tables (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); The Ossuary or Tomb of the Great Priest (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Platform of Venus and Round Platform (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Platform of the Tombs (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); The Plaza of the Thousand Columns (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pisté.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2017. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 223 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on March 8, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.