Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-07-06

R4NORA1H4 or UE rum OFcHcINW ~

outside of the building. This temple contains
also on the walls of an interior room, an elab-
crate mural painting representing an attack
Dy some enemy upon a city, perhaps Chichen
liza itself, and it's defense by the Inhabitants.
Some of the poses taken by the combatants in
the conflict are extremely realistic; such as in
the throwing of javelins, the swinging of war
clubs, and the like. This bit of mural decora-
ton in The House of The Tigers at Chichen
liza probably marks the high-water mark of
aboriginal painting in the Western Henri
sphere; at least it is superior to everything
else that has survived.
The identification of these two great walls
and the temples associated with them, as a
ball court. rests on firm historic foundation.
When the Spanish first came to Mexico they
found the natives playing a game of ball, which
was OF sufficient Importance to have a spe-
clal court or ground set apart for its exclu-
slve use. : Several of the early Spanish writer's
nave described the game in sopo detail. and
all agree as to its having plcJe1 an important
part in the life Of the people. One chronicler
has it that the object of the game was to
str1ke the ball SO that it would pass through
the opening in the stone ring above mentioned
as an important feature of the Chichen liza
court. He adds that the feat was one of con.
siderable dexterity, since the ball could not
De hit with the hands, but that the hips or
otner parts OF the body had to be used instead.
Ih1s rule OF the game very materially in
creased the difficulty in making a Maya bas-
ket;" so much so, in fact, we are told. that
the lucky player making this winning stroke
nao 1orIelt 10 him as a reward for his skill all
the clothing and of the spectators.
At such times, the chronicler concludes. tho
spectators were wont to scatter in all direc-
ions without loss of time, hoping thus to es.
cape paying the penalty, but that the friends
OF the lucky player Immediately gave chase
and endeavored to exact the full forfeit.
Although the name Ball Court has been Civ
en- to this group of temples at Chichen TIA.
1t should not be supposed on that account.
tnat THIS great court was built primarily for
sport. Such an explanation of its fundamental
purpose Is incompatible with any conception
winch the American aborigine ever seems to
nave entertained. To the liza people the chief
junction OF their Ball Court was doubtless q
rellglous one. Games played there, if. not
actually held in connection with religious fes-
rivals, were at least sufficiently religious in
their meaning as to completely overshadow
the element of sport as we understand the
term. That a game was played in which COM
petition and skill entered in cannot be doubt
ed in the face of contemporaneous evidence
and to this extent perhaps the Mexican Ball
Courts were athletic fields; but it must not be
forgotten for a moment that It's true signif-
canoe was religious, and that the games which
were played there probably were held only in
connection with religious festivals. It is not
improbable, however, that the Aztecs were
breaking away from the religious feature of
sport at til time of the Spanish Conquest, but
that "The Holy Men of the Itzas,' as the peo-
pie of Chichen liza are sometimes called in
the early manuscripts, had taken any such a
radical step Is little short of uncomfortable. so
religious in character was the whole MAYA
civilization.
To the east Of the Castillo lie a great groun
OF courts, pyramids and colonnades, sThe City
OF a Thousand Columns" already mentioned.