Ball game belt at The British Museum, London

myminifactory

These magnificent objects are often called 'yokes', but they were actually used as molds for shaping protective leather waist belts worn by ball game players. The dense, non-porous stone provided a perfect base for fashioning the wet leather. When dry, the belt was stuffed with softer material, possibly kapok from the ceiba tree or cotton, and then secured around the waist to cushion the impact of the heavy rubber ball. The belt carried symbolic meaning: the creature depicted on it is a toad - a zoomorphic representation of the earth. With the belt at mid-body, the player stood in the navel of the toad at the threshold to the underworld. The ball-court was a carefully circumscribed sacred space and an entrance to the spirit world. Political rivalries were settled in certain contests that ended in sacrifice by decapitation. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open source community effort; if you have interesting items around you and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help. Scanned using photogrammetry (processed with Agisoft PhotoScan).