How This Mayan Legend Inspired a Deadly Ballgame

In ancient Mayan lore, the world of the living was directly connected to the underworld: Xibalba. This belief was central to many facets of Mayan life - including a unique sport with fatal consequences.

[Bryponce]

Our tour guide (who also is an archaeologist that helped excavate this field) contradicts this video. He stated that the winners were the ones that were sacrificed. This allowed them to play at the next level of the game and "play with the gods". It was supposed to be a great honor.

[pdxrailtransit]

Well, I guess the NFL knows what to do if the TV ratings drop.

[JMEDINAPRODUCTIONS]

I just finished the tour here and the actual people that live here said that the WINNERS would be sacrificed. Not the losers.

[Dipipinoy]

Anyone else think of the movie the road to El Dorado?

[Ace-zrzt]

When you’re getting into it and the video ends 😢

[HeyUncleA]

I was just thinking about making a field in my backyard... minus the dying part of course.

[jakefreedman]

I just finished taking a tour of Chichén Itzal and the tour and decided to watch a video to learn more. The tour guide said that the winner’s captain (1 for each side) was decapitated and it was an honor as he now was with the gods.

[WWZenaDo]

Shouldn't that be the other way around? The winners get to go meet the gods, while the losers have to remain on earth...

[charlespeterwatson]

I thought the winners were the ones who got sacrificed because ancient Mayans felt that to offer yourself up to be sacrificed to the gods was an honorable act, even though it's irrationally suicidal and contradictory to the sports objective of victory.

[ThundermanDeadEndScribes]

I wonder if a thousand years from now people are going to see an Arkansas Razorback and think the losers of football games got fed to wild hogs.

[wmst]

Sounds like the ultimate version of 'One and you're done'.

[singlesinceforever]

I've been to chicken itza. It's beautiful

[robertafierro]

The Twins are EVERYWHERE you look on the carvings..just Incredible!!

[samuelwrobel]

I've been there.... such a cool civilzation

[ArkanSubotic]

According to our tour guide today neither team who plays would be sacrificed, the person sacrificed would be a prisoner of war. This person was captured by a single person and was a prisoner of war based of honour where he could leave at any point but would break honour, based off the comments here I want to know which version is correct for if rules changes from city to city or time period

[vincentbreaux]

I am pretty sure the winners were actually sacrificed lol cuz they were actually worthy to be a sacrifice.

[christophershore]

Could have swore I saw something like this in Apocalypto

[masons]

I was always told the winners were sacrificed

[raspano]

Hey I have been there three times. My good friend was a guide there. He used to make a joke . H would say this is a game you do not want to win. Because the winners would go to visit the gods the losers got to stay and play again

[ericoakley]

When I visited that site and that ball court the Mexican tour guide said the winners were sacrificed.