19 Jul: The Incan sport that stopped wars: Cool things I learnt today

marmitelover2000

Picture this: you’re standing high in the Andes, surrounded by the vast remnants of the Inca Empire. (No it's not a scene from Indiana Jones) Instead, you’re about to witness a sport that predates most of our modern-day games: Inca pelota.

Hold on to your llamas because like yesterday, this is going to be a long one ( I got really bored today)

Played with a rubber ball, this game was less about scoring goals and more about showcasing agility, strategy, and teamwork. Teams of players would face off on a court, working to keep the ball in play, using their feet, knees, and occasionally other parts of the body (no hands though – that’s a no-no).

Anyone heard of hacky sack ? That's the nerdy cousin.

Unlike your local gym’s basketball court, Incan pelota was played on a cancha (that’s Quechua for “field” or “court”). The cancha was often a large, flat area, sometimes even on a terraced slope ( because, why not make things more challenging with altitude and an incline?) The court was marked by boundaries, and sometimes elaborate stone constructions.

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The Incas were a lot more peaceful than their Aztec neighbors. Like our modern football teams, each town had their own team. They used these teams to settle disputes instead of engaging in war. ( Not a bad idea, maybe everyone should take note)

Their players were celebrities and gambling was extremely common. The winners would be given riches from the opposing teams rich dudes. ( far better than live human sacrifice if you ask me)

surfygoose

That’s really cool. I enjoyed reading your post.