
Rituals of the Game
Sala
The main theme of this room is Mesoamerican religion. Several sculptures depict this belief system, the most notable being the ring from the East Ballcourt, which represents the cyclical nature of time through macaws and bats, symbolizing day and night. Unusually shaped stelae also stand out: one, marked “10 Death,” symbolizes the end of the day; the other features abstract depictions of the five cosmic trees that support the sky, known as "quincunxes". Other objects—like caiman jaws symbolizing the earth—reflect Xochicalco’s deep religiosity. The prominent worship of Tlaloc is evident in Tlaloc jars, obsidian eccentrics, and stamps highlighting the deity's attributes.
