Does Triad have some Mayan roots?

[jewels]

I showed a friend an episode of BG that had a triad game in it and it reminded her of some sort of ballgame (she thought Mayan) that had been played in a walled court/that they'd found ruins of a court.

Was reminded of the conversation when I saw the patch art source article come up again.

[Apollon]

I think it was the Aztec Indians who played such a game in Mexico before the Spanish arrived. From what I recall, they were games played in honor of their gods and the loosing team would be killed. I can't remember the name of the game, but there are sites devoted to the pre-Hispanic cultures of Mexico and Central America that could shed more light.

[Muffit]

Hi Jewels and Apollon! The game you're thinking of was called Nahuatl by the Aztecs:

http://linux1.tlc.north.denver.k12.co.us/~gmoreno/gmoreno/Mesoamerican_Ballgame.html (http://linux1.tlc.north.denver.k12.co.us/~gmoreno/gmoreno/Mesoamerican_Ballgame.html)

It consisted of a stone court, sometimes up to a hundred feet long, with hoops mounted in the center of each side wall about 10 feet up (hence basketball, except these hoops were mounted vertically not horizontally). The Aztecs are usually credited with it cuz they were the ones the Conquistadors found playing it in such large numbers (and the Spaniards even brought back entire teams to Europe to entertain their royalty). However, the game is actually much older than them, probably originated by the Olmecs. All MesoAmerican cultures played it, including the Maya. The most unique thing about it was the ball - it was rubber, something the Europeans thought to be the work of the devil.

There is little doubt that all modern rubber ball-based sports owe their existence to this game. BTW, it was staggeringly popular. Today they've found hundreds of courts.

Hope this helps!!!
Muffit

P.S. - They also wore safety gear - knee pads, elbow pads, even helmets - amazing!!!