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Wikipedia

The Ball Court is the unique building of the Maya.

Strategy[]

The Ball Court gives an extra +2 Happiness (Civ4) compared to the Colosseum it replaces.

Civilopedia entry[]

The Mesoamerican "Ball Game" (no native name has ever surfaced for the sport) originated in Southern Mexico, roughly two thousand years before the Common Era. By the time of the arrival of the Spanish, the game had become popular throughout Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, drawing crowds from both the upper echelons of society and the masses.

While much of the game is still not understood, what is known is that two teams of two to four players each took to the field with the goal of keeping a small, rubber ball in the air by bouncing it off arms, hips and thighs. How the winner was decided is not known, but we do know that the losers often became the next sacrifice to the gods.

The Ball Court held a deep religious significance for the Maya. Mayan Kings would often reenact a famous game between the God of the Underworld and the Heroes from the Popol Vuh, a Mayan sacred text. The King's victory on the Ball Court was said to be an omen of the continued survival of his city.

Trivia[]

  • The Maya played a ball game that they called pok-a-tok.

See also[]

Civilization IV Buildings [edit]
Academy Airport Aqueduct (BarayB HammamW) Bank (Stock ExchangeW) Barracks (IkhandaW) Bomb Shelter Broadcast Tower Bunker Castle (CitadelW) Cathedral (Buddhist Stupa Christian Cathedral Confucian Academy Hindu Mandir Islamic Mosque Jewish Synagogue Taoist Pagoda) Coal Plant (Shale PlantW) Colosseum (Ball CourtB GardenB OdeonW) Courthouse (RathausB Sacrificial AltarW ZigguratB) Customs HouseB (FeitoriaB) Drydock Factory (Assembly PlantW) Forge (MintW) Granary (TerraceW) Grocer (ApothecaryW) Harbor (CothonW) Hospital Hydro Plant Industrial ParkB Intelligence AgencyB Jail (MausoleumW) Laboratory (Research InstituteW') LeveeB (DikeB) Library (MadrassaW) Lighthouse (Trading PostW') Market (ForumW) Military Academy Monastery Monument (ObeliskW SteleB Totem PoleB) Nuclear Plant Observatory (SalonW) Public TransportationB Recycling Center Scotland Yard Security BureauB Stable (GerW) Supermarket (MallW) Temple Theatre (HippodromeB PavilionW) University (SeowonW) Walls (DunW)
W Added in WarlordsB Added in Beyond the Sword
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