Totonac. <em>Palma</em>, 700–900. Basalt stone, 30 x 9 1/2 x 6 1/4 in. (76.2 x 24.1 x 15.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 59.237.7. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 59.237.7.jpg)

Totonac. Palma, 700–900. Basalt stone, 30 x 9 1/2 x 6 1/4 in. (76.2 x 24.1 x 15.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 59.237.7. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 59.237.7.jpg)

Totonac. Palma, 700–900. Basalt stone, 30 x 9 1/2 x 6 1/4 in. (76.2 x 24.1 x 15.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 59.237.7. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 59.237.7_front_acetate_bw.jpg)

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The label on this said this was worn on a belt? How did they wear it if it was so heavy?

Great question! Palmas, like this one, were intended to represent similar items that were attached to the belts of ball-players during the game. The stone versions served ceremonial purposes.

This piece emulates actual palm branches that were attached to the belts of ball-players in Mesoamerican cultures.

The abstract curls carved into the stone possibly symbolized flowing blood. Blood has connotations of sacrifice. The ballgame in Mesoamerica was played for both recreational and ceremonial purposes. Other ceremonial ballgame accessories include iconography of death as well.

Cool!

Indeed!

What ballgame are they playing?

There were several different versions of the ballgame in ancient Mesoamerica. The game played here likely had two teams of players moving a rubber ball around a I-shaped ballcourt with the goal of getting the ball through a small ring. It's believed to be somewhat similar to soccer.

Most of the equipment ancient players used hasn't survived into the modern age but we have depictions of players in stone and stone replicas used for ceremonies to show us what it would have looked like.

Using feet only?

In some of cases, yes. Players would also use their hips to move the ball through the court.

They wore these? I'm in. They've got to weigh 5+ kilos. And no belt loop!

This is a stone interpretation or representation of the ballgame equipment that a player would have worn. They are called palmas in Spanish because they resemble palm leaves. The Palma would have been attached to the player's belt.

The same goes for the "belt" -- a stone version of a much lighter object made of organic materials that did not survive! They were most likely made for ceremonial purposes. And the stone versions lasted for us to see, unlike the palmas and belts that would have decayed over time.

Oh. That makes more sense

What kind of ball did they use to play the game?

The balls were made from a natural rubber! They were extremely heavy and players had to wear a lot of padding to protect themselves. This stone piece represents a real piece of athletic gear that would have protected the hip and been made of leather or plant materials.

Palma

Arts of the Americas

Like hachas, palmas (literally, “palm branches”) were worn as appendages on the front of ballgame belts. The sinuously carved scroll designs on this example may signify blood, and therefore sacrifice.

Al igual que las hachas, las palmas (por su semejanza a hojas de palma) se usaban como apéndices al frente de los cinturones del juego de pelota. Los diseños de volutas grabados en este ejemplo pueden significar sangre, y por lo tanto sacrificio.

CULTURE Totonac

MEDIUM Basalt stone

Place Found: Veracruz, Mexico

DATES 700–900

PERIOD Late Classic Period

DIMENSIONS 30 x 9 1/2 x 6 1/4 in. (76.2 x 24.1 x 15.9 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas

ACCESSION NUMBER 59.237.7

CREDIT LINE By exchange

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Palm-shaped stone sculpture decorated with carved scroll designs and representing a decorative element that was worn on the front of ball game belts. Condition: good.

EXHIBITIONS

Life, Death, and Transformation in the Americas

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Totonac. Palma, 700–900. Basalt stone, 30 x 9 1/2 x 6 1/4 in. (76.2 x 24.1 x 15.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 59.237.7. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 59.237.7.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 59.237.7.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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