Breaking the hieroglyph code also helped archaeologists understand how the Maya spent some of their time. A specific kind of ball court can be found in many Maya cities. Archaeologists were puzzled about these courts, which varied in size. Some were the size of volleyball courts. Others were larger than football fields.

Archaeologists now think the Maya played a game called pok-ta-pok in these courts. They believe the goal of pok-ta-pok was to drive a solid rubber ball to a specific place on the opponents’ side of the court. The balls were heavy. Also, players were not allowed to use their hands or feet! Experts think players may have had to use hips, elbows, knees, or other body parts to score a goal.

The court at the Maya site of Chichén Itzá (/cheechen/eetsah/) is still visible today. This court had stone rings, and a team could win the game by driving the hard rubber ball through the ring on the other team’s side of the court. If you use your imagination, you can picture what a pok-ta-pok game might have looked like.

Imagine big, strong pok-ta-pok players stepping out onto the court. They wear leather helmets and pads to protect themselves. You can also see that they are worried. They know that the stake are high. Pok-ta-pok is a game with religious meaning. The Maya think of it as a battle between good and evil. The only way to find out who’s good and who’s evil is to see who wins the game.

Hundreds of spectators have gathered. They see the game as meaningful for their world and as a way of honoring the gods.

When the game begins, the sound of the bouncing ball is added to the cheers. Pok, pok, pok! goes the hard rubber ball as it hits the ground and bounces off the walls of the court.

But what do you think happened to the losers? Experts believe that at least in certain situations, some of them were offered as sacrifices to the gods.

Human sacrifice was a part of the Maya religion. Maya priests sought to please the gods by offering sacrifices atop the pyramids. No wonder the pok-ta-pok players looked worried as they walked onto the court!

Pok-ta-pok and human sacrifice are two parts of Maya life that we have learned about from Maya hieroglyphs. In the next chapter, you will learn more about the scientific achievements and daily life of the ancient Maya.