Chichén Itzá ~ Ball Court Carvings

The details carved at the center of the ball court, directly beneath the rings, depict a beheading. Some sources say that the game losers also lost their lives. Our guide at Chichén Itzá said that assumption is false. The winners had the honor of being sacrificed to the gods and it was the losers who did the killing and had to live with the shame of having taken another’s life.

The picture below was taken at an angle, but some key details are visible. Can you spot the beheading? It is left of center. Look for serpent-shaped blood spurting from a player’s neckline. You can see the head being held near the ground further left. Scroll down for a better look.

Put your mouse pointer over the picture below to see it more clearly.

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