Buzz
Sports have become so ingrained in our everyday lives that it's nearly impossible to imagine a world without them. While modern sports have roots dating back only a century or so, ancient civilizations had their own thrilling and sometimes brutal competitions that pitted teams against each other in fierce, bloody clashes.
10. PitzCulture: Mayan
With deep cultural and religious meaning, the Mayan sport known as pitz is one of humanity's oldest games, dating back as far as 2,500 BC. The game saw various adaptations over time, with changes to ball size and the equipment used to strike it, depending on the context. Initially resembling racquetball, pitz eventually incorporated hoops as goals. Serving as the heart of every Mayan town, the ball court was often used symbolically as a stand-in for warfare, allowing rivals to resolve their conflicts without spilling blood.
Additionally, Mayan rulers, much like the Aztec emperors, would frequently reenact their myths right on the court. One of the most well-known stories played out was that of the Maize Gods and the Hero Twins. Enthusiastic fans of pitz, the Maize Gods would often make a lot of noise during their games, angering Xibalba, the Underworld deity. In retaliation, he killed them, buried them on the court, and hung one of their heads in a tree in the Underworld. The head spat on a princess, who became pregnant and gave birth to the Hero Twins, who then revived the Maize Gods.
Human sacrifice was also part of the game’s ritual. Captured kings or team captains of the defeated side were often decapitated after the match, though it's possible that the outcome of the games was preordained, and the contests served more as elaborate ceremonies than competitive events.
9. HarpastumCulture: Roman
An ancient Roman precursor to modern rugby, harpastum was played with a small, hard ball sharing the same name. Originating from two early Greek games, the objective varied with each version, but all involved two competing teams. One variation featured a lone player in the center of a scrum, striving to grab the harpastum and break free while opponents tried to trap him and keep the ball out of his hands.
Other versions of the game were much like rugby, with two balanced teams competing on a field, with goals at either end. Passing and feinting were key strategies as the aim was to move the ball to the opposing side of the field. The game often resulted in injuries due to the absence of rules concerning grappling. A set amount of time would be determined beforehand, and the team with the most points at the end would be crowned the victor.
The renowned Roman doctor Galen praised harpastum as one of the best physical exercises, citing its low cost, simplicity, and adaptability to the skill levels of any player.
8. Fisherman JoustingCulture: Egyptian
Fisherman jousting, the favored sport of the impoverished boatmen along the Nile, was exactly as it sounds. Two teams of fishermen would engage in a fierce contest, using their hands and feet to knock their opponents off balance and into the water. These battles were fought aboard papyrus boats, which were steered with poles that also served as weapons to unseat the opposition. Some of these contests were thought to be impromptu matches to settle territorial disputes.
A brutal and often deadly sport, fisherman jousting frequently resulted in many fatalities. The Nile's waters were teeming with hippos and crocodiles, eager to maim any contestants who fell overboard. Moreover, swimming wasn’t as common as it is today, and many fishermen drowned simply because they couldn’t swim.
Some scholars suggest that certain jousting matches had a religious undertone, as murals depict boats filled with offerings. The boatmen appeared to race against each other to be the first to honor the gods, with physical combat becoming part of the race when it was close.
7. BuzkashiCulture: Turkic
Buzkashi, a sport that originated between the 10th and 15th centuries with the Turkic people, is still actively played today, primarily by their descendants. Known as the national sport of Afghanistan, it involves two teams of horseback riders who compete to drag a headless goat carcass across the field and deposit it in a designated area, typically a circle. Occasionally, a sheep or calf may replace the goat in the game.
Banned during the Taliban's rule, buzkashi is a brutal and aggressive sport where riders wield whips to strike the horses of their opponents. While the rule forbidding the use of whips on the riders is often ignored, the sport remains deeply tied to the social status of the winning team. The horses owned by the victors often cover the costs of keeping the animals in good condition between matches. The origins of this fierce sport remain a mystery, but legend tells that Genghis Khan and his Mongol army would steal livestock from the Turkic people, who would risk their lives to reclaim the stolen animals on horseback.
6. PatoCulture: Argentinean
Pato, derived from the Spanish word for duck, is also known as horseball. It is Argentina's official sport, a unique blend of polo and basketball. Emerging in the 1500s, it was originally played with a duck placed in a basket, instead of the ball that modern players use. A fiercely competitive game, riders often clashed violently for victory, particularly when significant amounts of money were involved.
The sport has faced numerous bans throughout its history, mainly due to its violent nature, which often led to fatalities. In the 17th century, the Catholic Church took extreme measures, excommunicating anyone found playing. For centuries, pato remained played in secret until the 20th century when changes in rules made it safer, and the duck in the basket was replaced by a special ball featuring six leather handles. The goals have also evolved, from a simple box to the modern hoop with a net seen today.
5. He’e HöluaCulture: Hawaiian
He’e hölua, also known as 'sled surfing' in Hawaiian, is one of the more hazardous sports on this list. Originating over 2,000 years ago on the Hawaiian Islands, it involves a perilous climb up a volcano with a sled crafted from wood and coconut fibers. Once at the summit, the rider or team of riders would race down the slope, either lying on their stomachs or in a traditional surfing stance.
Riders often reached speeds of 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph), and the races were considered offerings to Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes. The sport was halted in the 19th century by Christian missionaries who deemed it too dangerous and a waste of time. However, native Hawaiians have recently revived the practice to reconnect with their heritage.
4. Pelota PurépechaCulture: Mexican
Pelota purépecha is an ancient game, akin to field hockey but with an added fiery element: The ball is set on fire. Originating from the Purépecha people of Michoacán, Mexico, the game involved a ball coated in pine resin, set alight, and then batted around by players using wooden sticks. The objective was to knock the flaming ball past the goalposts on either side of the field.
The ball used in the game, called a zapandukua, was typically crafted from interwoven cloth and twine. Pelota purépecha was usually played at night, as the ball created a stunning spectacle under the moonlight. Like many games from Mexico's indigenous peoples, pelota purépecha has largely faded into obscurity. However, efforts by the Mexican government are working to bring attention to this important piece of the nation's cultural heritage.
3. ChunkeyCulture: Native American
Chunkey is one of the oldest sports in what is now the United States, developed by the Mississippian culture around the ancient city of Cahokia. Typically played between two teams, although often just one-on-one, the game involved rolling a small stone disk from a starting point, with opposing players throwing spears at the spot where they believed the disk would land.
As it spread across the Southeast Native American tribes, chunkey became a key unifying force, helping to forge one of the largest civilizations in North America, north of Mesoamerica. Each tribe had their own variations on the rules, but the core objective remained the same. The game was so serious, and gambling such a significant part of the culture, that some players would even commit suicide after losing, especially when they had wagered everything they owned.
2. HurlingCulture: Irish
Hurling, one of the oldest sports still actively played, resembles a blend of hockey and lacrosse. The game features two teams, each using a wooden stick called a hurley to strike a small ball, the sliotar, into a goal. As the fastest field sport in the world, hurling sees ball speeds of up to 145 kilometers per hour (90 mph), and players often leave the field bruised and bloodied.
However, the sport’s 3,000-year history is far more violent. Early hurling resembled warfare, with minimal rules and matches that could last for days. Teams could number in the hundreds, increasing the violence of the contests. The Celts are believed to have brought the sport to Ireland, with myths of legendary heroes playing hurling dating back to the 12th century BC.
1. NaumachiaCulture: Roman
A naumachia, less renowned than the gladiatorial combat that defined Roman sports culture, was a simulated naval battle staged for public entertainment. Typically, condemned criminals were forced to participate, and these staged battles were often held in specially constructed artificial basins. The first recorded naumachia took place in 46 BC, organized by Julius Caesar to commemorate his military victories as part of a Roman triumphal procession.
The spectacle involved two ships placed on opposite sides, each filled with “volunteer” combatants, who would fight until one side was annihilated. Some of these events were so grandiose that sea creatures were introduced to the waters for added drama. The largest recorded naumachia was organized by Emperor Claudius in 52 AD, with 100 ships and over 19,000 men taking part in the event.
