The vertical walls that line the ceremonial playing field are 8 meters (26
feet) high, 83 meters (272 feet) long, and stand 30 meters (98 feet) apart.
The lower parts are decorated with carved feathered serpents and low-reliefs
showing uniformed ball players. At the halfway line, the carvings depict the
captain of one team holding his opponent's severed head while gouts of blood
spurt from the neck of the loser. Or winner, perhaps: some scholars have
suggested that it was the winning captain who had the honor of sacrificing
his life to the gods.
|
