Size and Shape
Ballcourts vary considerably in size. One of the smallest, at Tikal site, is only one-sixth the size of the Great Ballcourt at Chichen Itza. Despite the variation in size, ballcourts' playing alleys are generally the same shape, with an average length-to-width ratio of 4-to-1, although some regional variation is found: Central Mexico, for example, has slightly longer playing alleys, and the Maya Northern Lowlands slightly wider.
The following is a comparison of the size of the playing alleys for several well-known ballcourts.
| Site | Culture | length (meters) | width (meters) | length-to-width ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xochicalco | Xochicalco | 51 | 9 | 5.7 |
| Monte Alban | Zapotec | 26 | 5 | 5.2 |
| El Tajin | Classic Veracruz | 126 | 25 | 5.1 |
| Chichen Itza (Grand Ballcourt) | Maya | 96 | 30.4 | 3.2 |
| Tikal (Small ceremonial) | Maya | 16 | 5 | 3.2 |
| Yaxchilan II | Maya | 18 | 5 | 3.6 |
| Tula | Toltec | 41 | 10 | 4.1 |
Read more about this topic: Mesoamerican Ballcourt
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