MAYA RULERS’ ASHES WERE TURNED INTO ‘FOOTBALLS’
The ancient Maya may have played games using balls made from the ashes of their dead rulers, an archaeologist has claimed. Juan Yadeun Angulo came up with the theory after studying a crypt in the ruined city of Toniná, Mexico, where researchers recently uncovered 400 urns filled a sport resembling a mixture of football, volleyball and basketball. Mr Yadeun told the Reuters news agency that the Maya may have wanted their rulers to be “converted into a life force, something to stimulate their people”.
