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Origin: A Genetic History of the Americas

by Jennifer Raff

by Jennifer Raff

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probably involved two teams passing a rubber ball back and forth in a<br />

manner similar to volleyball except using <strong>the</strong>ir hips. The game had<br />

ritualistic meanings; in <strong>the</strong> ancient Maya belief system it was played<br />

between <strong>the</strong> Hero Twins and <strong>the</strong> Lords <strong>of</strong> Xibalba (<strong>the</strong> Underworld) in a<br />

struggle between life and death. Beginning around <strong>the</strong> Classic period,<br />

human sacrifice—possibly <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> losing team—became associated with <strong>the</strong><br />

ballgame at some sites.

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