Monumento 171

The ballgame was more of a religious act rather than a sport one. It was played with a rubber ball in a court that provided both real and mythical environment and at the same time turning it into a metaphor full of cosmological meanings since the movement of the ball represents the movement of heavenly bodies.At the left we see K’ihnich B’aaknal Chaahk (688-715 AD), the most important ruler of the site, represented at the moment of hitting the rubber ball. The identity of the second character is somewhat mysterious. Some researchers suggest that he is Yuhkno’m Waywal also known as “Ruler 2” of Tonina, but he could also be a ruler from the far city of Calakmul. The event took place on October 28, 727 AD. The monument has three texts whose reading begins in the center to continue to the left side and finishes in the right side. The piece was recently found in the Witz Palace in Tonina, Chiapas.Dra. Federica Sodi MirandaColaboradores: Arqlgo. Hugo Herrera Torres Araceli Ruiz Peláez Mtro. Hugo García Capistran.