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  • American Gladiators Ritual Boxing in Anc

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    mesoamerica

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    100 visualizações32 páginas

    American Gladiators Ritual Boxing in Anc

    Enviado por

    Isus Davi
    mesoamerica

    Direitos autorais:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Baixe no formato PDF ou leia online no Scribd
    Sinalizar o conteúdo como inadequado
    de 32
    BLOOD AND BEAUTY ORGANIZED VIOLENCE IN THE ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF MESOAMERICA AND CENTRAL AMERICA EDITED BY HEATHER Orr AND REX Koontz ‘Cotsen INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY PRESS 2009 CHAPTER 7 AMERICAN GLADIATORS: RITUAL BOXING IN ANCIENT MESOAMERICA Karl Taube and Mare Zender IyTRopUCTION oO the years, a great deal of research has been devoted to the Mesoameri- can ballgame, which already had imporcant religious as well as social rales by the Early Formative Olmec occupation of San Lorenzo (ca. 1150-900 B.C.). Ic is also clear that aside from hip ball played in masonry courts, vatiety of other ballgames were played, including stickball and a Classic Maya version played with large balls against stairways (Coe 2003; Taladoire 2003; Taube 2004; Zender 2001a). However, the ballgame was by no means the only competitive sport played in ancient Mesoamerica. Another important but litele-studied sport was boxing, a native tradition chat continves in Nahua communities of highland Guerrero (Orr 1997,2003; Taube 2004:84-85; Zender 2004:7~8).In the region of Tixtla, Chilapa, Acatlin, and Zielala, men in jaguar dress fightin early May to bring the rains. The recent research by Heather Orr (1997, 2003) is the most ambitious to date concerning the ritual and symbolic role of boxing in ancient Mesoamerica. Much of her work has focused on the Late Preclassie Zapotec reliefs from Dainzii, O2xaca. Orr (1997, 2003) has compared the Dainzi seulp- ‘ures not only co Classic Maya scenes of boxing, bu also tothe contemporary cee- monies of highland Guerrero. According to Ore, the reliefs at Dainzsi portray ‘men fighting with stone balls. She cogenely argues chat at Dainzti, the ritual com- bat concerned rainmaking and mountain worship, as it still does today for the 162 Kant TauBe AND Mac ZENDER inhabicants of Zitlala, Acatkin, and other communities of the Montafa de Guer- ‘in contemporary Mesoamerica, ceremonial boxing is well documented in the Montaia de Guerrero and typically occurs during or near the Day of the Cross, widely identifed with the beginning ofthe rainy season (Calles Travieso 1994, Diaz Visquez 2003; Matias Alonso 1997:158-166; Obregén Téllez and Martinez Resclavo 1991; Olivera 1994:88-90; Sanchez Andraks 1983:53-54; Sepilveda Hercera 1982:51; Williams-Garcia 1997). Although such ritualized ‘combat does oecur in town centers, a major focus and locus for boxing is on reanaintops che eadtional abode of the Fokes of rain and lighting. As Ros tba Diaz Visquez (2003:66-67) notes inher recene volume concerning boxing in Acatlin, Guerrero, this ceremonial combat appears to be entirely indigenous and consticutes a nacive form of rain ceremony and mountain worship with no formal ties to the Catholic Church. A basic, underlying theme is rain ritual, with the blows comparec to thunder and the ensuing blood to rain, events cleady related co the advent of the rainy season in eaely May. The players frequently ivear heavy, leather helmet masks portraying jaguars, with heir epen mouths terving as horizontal visors forthe Fighters (Figure 7.1; ee Diaz VAsquez 2003: 81, 91, 124). In addition, the leacher masks have projecting jaguar ears, and it should be noted chat both che horizontal visors and jaguar ears are present in the boxing helmet masks of Classic Period Mesoamerica. In both appearance and artendant symbolism, the boxers of Classic Mesoamerica share many traits with contemporary traditions of ritualized combat documented ethnographi- cally for the Montaia de Guerrero. Following the original insights of Ore, this study presents further evidence forthe ancient identification of boxing with rainmaking. However, we also rake a slightly diferent tangent. Although Orr (1997, 2003) recognizes the Daina reliefs as scenes of erualized combat, she nonetheless refers the sport asa form of "handball” due tothe fact that stone balls were apparently employed. By con tas, we argue that, whether fashioned of wood or stone, these balls were not objects to be manipulated across a playing fed, but rather boxing weapons intended to maim or kill. In this ritualized blood sport a variery of weapons were used, including stone spheres, at times weapped in cloth, manoplas, conch shells, find shore stone cuss. Although these ritualized forms of boxing and combat are entirely disince from the ballgame, che sports overlap both themasically and with respect co the types of gear and apparel employed, and itis likely char ball coures were frequent loci for boxing events, In addition, aside from its sacred role, box- jg was also a form of entertainment and frequently appears in the context of drinking alcoholic beverages. FIGURE 7.1. Three views of acon- emporary jaguar boxing mask from highland Guerrero, Mexico. "The mask is composed of several layers of hardened leather bound: wih metal wire. The left cheek is marked with daube of red paint, probably ro indicate blood. 164 Kani TAUBE AND MARC ZENDER ‘MASKED BOXERS AND RITUAL Comat “Tha ficse published images of ancient Mesoamerican boxers appeared in a mono- graph by TA. Joyce (1933) concerning ceramic figurines from the Classic Maya fice of Lubaantun, Belize. No fewer than 27 of the figurines portray males weae- ing helmet masks (Figures 7.2, 7.6¢).Resembling medieval ousting helmets, chese devices are supplied wth a horizontal sli to provide sight for the wearer, feature also found on contemporary leather boxing masks from Guerrero (Figure 7.1), “The Lubaaneun figures frequently have a broad shoulder frame projecting above the elmer mask, s rectangular biblike element, wide loindoth and a garment hanging from the waist co protect the hips and oiter thighs. Similar hip garments are commonly depicted on Classic Maya ballplayers and were probably fashioned of thick leather. Aeconding to Joyce (1933:19-22), the masked Lubaancun figures are in ace ballplayers. However, Norman Hammond (1976) rightly noted thatthe Cossume of these figures is entirely distince from known ballplayer figurines 2t TLubsaneun. Hammond (1976:106) also mentioned chat wo of the figurines apparendly portray pais of figures engaged in combac (Figure 7.2d~e). Hammond (1976:107) identified the Lubaantun helmeted figures as fighters, although he was reluctant to state whether this combat concerned warfare or sport: “They are shown either just standing fully acourred, or in a close active jux- ‘positon that might reasonably be called ‘combat’ whether this is the com- bat of warriors in bare, the controlled combat of a sport or the quasi-com- bat ofa situal, wehave no way of telling. Figurine molds of the helmeced boxers were found at Lubsaneun indicating chat they were made locally (Hammond 1976:104). In addition, Hammond (1976:106~107, fg. 6) noted tha a polychrome vase inthe British Museum por- ‘ays the same helmesed figures engaged in combat. The vessel derives from either Lubaantun or nearby Pusilha;clealy this sport was of considerable importance in che Lubaancun region. ‘Aside from the weselin the British Museum, several other Late Classic Maya vases explicitly portay the spore of boxing, In one scene a pair of gods or deity impersonators face an opposing team of four, with one of che later already lying scanned or dead (see Robicseleand Hiales 1981: ig. 17 [700]) 2 Wieh their long, ‘bound hair, projectizg upper lip, and knotted bee pieces, the pur of figures prob- ably represents embodiments of Chaak, the rain god (Figure 73a). The team of four fighters has helmet masks with jaguar ears and che facial'erullec” element of the Jaguar God of the Underworld, and the same helmets are also worn on the ‘backs of che wo Chaaks. David Stuart (1998-408) has suggested thar the Jaguar God of the Underworld was both the night sun and “the supernatural patron of 7: AMERICAN GLADIATORS: RITUAL BOXING 165 FiGURE 7.2. Helmeted and padded Maya boxers, Late Classic ceramic figurines from Lubanewun, Belize. (Al from Joyce 1933: pl. 7-8.) fire and fire making” Iv is thus possible thatthe combat reflects a basic dual oppo- sition between igneous and aquatic gods, recalling the Aztec phrase for war, at! tlachinolli,"water and fire.” A numberof the players wear thick belts, probably to protect their midsection from the weapons they wield in both hands. Although Robicsek and Hales (1981:116) scated that che white objects ae of fling, the small ciccles on these weapons suggest tha: they are conch. FIGURE 73. Late Clase veasel scenes of Maya boxing: a helmeted boxers spar ring with conch shells, Late Classic vessel afer Robicck and Hales 1981: fig 178) b, helmeted and padded bovers wielding conch shells, Lae Classic vessel (afer Kerr 1989:19 [KS001' «heavily padded and helmeted boxers wielding stones, derail fiom incised vetel (afer a photograph by Justin Kerr (K8545)). AMERICAN GLADIATORS: RITUAL BOXING 167 ‘Another Late Classic vessel scene porcrays three boxers wielding conch shell ‘weapons in their ight hands (Figure 7.3b). One fragmentary Lubaantun boxer figurine with the aforementioned bib element holds a probable conch in his left hand (see Joyce 1933: pl 3, 0.9). As inthe case of the aforementioned vase, one of the figures has binding high on the abdomen, probably ro protect che torso from heavy blows (Figure 73a-b). In the vessel scene, the left hands are covered with a form of mit similar to examples appearing with the Lubgancun figurines. Although i is conceivable that these mitts ace of sofe maceral ro serve as defen sive shields, they ae pulled back behind the body as ifn preparation to strike. It is quite possible that the left arms are bound to a hard and heavy material, such as stone, for giving crushing blows. Whereas one Lubaantun figurine portrays a boxer with the mice raised menacingly behind his head, anocher depicts afighcer striking his opponent with this device (Figuce 7.2d~e). The helmet masks are very similar to those worn by the Lubaancun figurines, which also have visor like eye slits. Alchough not mentioning Lubaantun, justin Kere (1989:13) compared the three vessel figures to the sculpures of Dainzi as well as co a Classic Maya figurine atributed to the Peten (see Berjoneau etal. 1985: pls, 368-369). The helmec masks worn by the vessel players are sported, probably co suggest jaguar pelage. With their spots and visor-ike eye opening in the mouth area, these Late Classic examples are also very similar to he leather jaguar helmet masks worn by the boxers in contemporary Guerrero (see Diaz Vazquez 2003:81, 91, 118-119, 123-124). A carved Late Classic vase provides an especially elaborate scene of four asked boxers accompanied by ewo other figures, probably musicians (Eigure 73e; for the entire scene, see (K8545]). Whereas one of che unmasked individa- als is singing and grasps what mighthe a flute the other figure holds out a prob able feather-tasseled conch trumpet (Figure 7.3¢). Another song scroll emerges from the mouth slit of one of helmet masks, indicating that the boxer is also singing, The other three boxers hold their arms out in gestures of dance. One boxer has the spherical mitt bound to his lefe hand, recalling the aforementioned vessel scene (Figure 7.36c). Although all boxers wield weapons, the immediate events a dance rather than direce combat. Dating to the Late Preclassic Period (c2.200 B.C.~A.D. 200), Zapotec relies at Daina, O2xaca, feature 31 fguresin dynamic poses wearing helmet masks and srasping a ball with a glovein one hard (Eigure 7.4). Ina discussion ofthe Dainzit monuments, Ignacio Bernal and Anéy Seuffere(1979:26) briefly mention a con- temporary Mixtec ballgame, or pelote mixteca, but make no specific comparisons to the Dainat figates:"Up co the present time in what is now the state of Osxaca the Mixtec ballgame rakes place onan open field and has certain elements that can 168 KARL TAUBE AND Marc ZENDER ‘only be survivals from prehispanictimes."In peloca mixteca, the bali struck with “heavily padded mie. Ina recene derailed reappraisal of the relation ofthe Dinas ‘elif ro peloca mixeca, Eric Taladoire (2003) concludes that the Late Preclasic carvings portray an ancient form of the contemporary Mixtec game. In his study, hhoweves, he notes at research by Heiner Gillmeister (1988) indicates a Euro- ‘pean origin for much ofall of the Mixtec game. Although Taladoite (2003:328) acknowledges that”[elhe validity of Gillmeister's argument cannot be denied.” he considers the appearance of the Dainzi ballplaers too similae to the contempo- rary pelota mixteca for ittobe coincidence. In his discussion of the Dainait reliefs, Taladaice (2003:326) mentions that both Heather Orr and Karl Taube identify the Dainats figures as boxers. Tal adoire (2003:326-327), however, does not concur with this interpretation for several reasons: such ritual combat is not known for the Aztea it ispoorly docu- mented echnographicall; and ethnohistorically’ and the Dainzii mits and kné pads would be more compatible “with game ritual chan with simple fighting” Although iis true chat Aztec boxing is not documented in the sixceenthcentury Spanish accounts, this can also be said of the pelora mixteca. Although Bernardi- no de Sahagin, Diego Durin, and other early chroniclers provided detailed accounts of the 20-day veintena celebrations, many aspects of Aztec ceremonial life and games probably were not recorded. In addition, iis entirely possible thae alchough ritual boxing may not have been present among the Late Postclassic Az- tec, i could have been performed in other regions and periods in ancient Meso- america Although boxing is indeed poorly known for Contact Period sixteenth century Mesoamerica, this is not the case for contemporary Guerrero. As we note in ous introduction, ritual boxing in che context of rainmaking is very well docu- mented for contemporary highland Guerrero, including a monograph entirely devoted o this topic (Diaz Visques 2003). "The physical appearance ofthe contemporary Guerzero boxers is very simi- lar to Classic Period Zapotec and Maya examples. Ir was noted that the modern leather boxing masks portray jaguars with fline eas, and indeed most of the Dini masks have these features as well: [No less than twenty-one figures still show an ear—not a human ear but chat ‘of a jaguar—and this forms pare of the headgear. (Bernal and Seuffert 1979:16) Norman Hammond (personal communication 2005) notes that one Lubaantun boxer figure alto has an explics jaguar ear at the side ofthe head (Figure 74c)-In addition, ewo of che Dainzi figuees have long tails, quite possibly those of jaguars (Figure 7.4e; ee also Bernal and Seuffere 1979: drawing 7). Like modeen boxers, the Dainzi achletes are dressed as jaguars. 7: AMERICAN GLADIATORS: FicURe 74, Zapocee and Maya portayale of helmeted boxers: 4, bas-relief of Zapocec boxer with Cocijo mouth and S-shaped cloud ecrll on brow, examples from Monte Albin, (afer Bernal and Seufrt 1979: drawing SI; b, head of boxes with jaguar ear and cloud ot water scrolls, Dainza (afer Bernal and Seurt 1979: drawing 51); c, Late Classic Maya ‘boxer with probable jaguar ear, Lubaannaa figurine fagment (drsum after photo courtesy of ‘Norman: Hammond); d, Daina boxers wich probable jaguar eats and cloud or waer scrolls, (fier Bernal and Seufere 1979: drawing 18); e, Dainzi boxer with Cocjo mouth and S- shaped cloud sign on brow (aftr Bernal and Seufert 1979: drawing 3)- In the Dainat reliefs, che most striking item worn by the players is the hel- tet mask. Not only is the helmet mask not worn in the modern pelota mixteca, but it is also difficult co explain why such an item would be of use and not a hin-

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