15 WEIRD Ancient Games and Sports
15 WEIRD Ancient Games and Sports
Transcript
00:00Hey everyone, today we're delving into the quirky side of history with a look at 15 weird
00:05ancient games that entertained our ancestors.
00:08Let's begin with number 15, the Mesoamerican Ball Game.
00:12The Mesoamerican Ball Game, known in Nahuatl as olamalitzli and in Mayan as piz, has roots
00:19extending back to at least 1650 BC.
00:22This ancient sport was played by various pre-Columbian civilizations across Mesoamerica and still
00:27survives in a modern form called ulama among some indigenous communities.
00:33The exact rules of the ball game remain a little bit unclear, but the game's objectives
00:37likely resembled those of racquetball, where players aimed to keep the ball in play.
00:43In its most common form, players struck a solid rubber ball weighing up to 4 kilograms
00:47with their hips.
00:49Variants of the game permitted the use of forearms, racquets, bats, or even hand stones.
00:54Now beyond the recreational aspects, the ball game held significant ritual importance.
00:59Major ball games were ceremonial events, and in later periods, some games incorporated
01:03human sacrifice as part of their religious practice.
01:06Archaeological evidence of the ball courts span across Mesoamerica from Copan to modern
01:11Nicaragua and potentially as far north as present-day Arizona.
01:15The distribution of these courts supports the theory that the ball game served not only
01:19as a sport, but as a mechanism for conflict resolution and social cohesion.
01:25Symbolism played a huge role in the ball game.
01:26Astronomical connections were drawn with the bouncing ball representing the sun and the
01:31stone scoring ring signifying sunrise, sunset, or equinoxes.
01:36The game did also symbolize war, with the ball representing a vanquished enemy in Maya
01:40culture.
01:41The game embodied cosmological duality.
01:44It symbolized the struggle between day and night or life in the underworld, with courts
01:49considered portals to the underworld.
01:5214. He'e Holua
01:55He'e Holua, commonly known as holua, is a traditional Hawaiian mountain sledding sport
02:01with deep cultural and mythological roots.
02:04Athletes use a 12-foot sled to launch themselves head-first down steep courses, often exceeding
02:09speeds of 50 miles an hour.
02:12Competitions measure the distance each competitor slides, with the farthest mark determining
02:15the winner.
02:16Historically, it was closely associated with Hawaiian royalty, however, the sport was enjoyed
02:21by all social groups, with men, women, and children participating, though men were the
02:26primary practitioners.
02:28The term holua is used broadly when referring to the sport, the sled, papa holua, and the
02:33courses themselves.
02:35Longer courses, typically over two miles, are called holualoa, with each course bearing
02:39a specific name, such as Keauahu holua.
02:43These courses were made of rock, and athletes could ride standing up, lying down, or even
02:47kneeling.
02:48The sleds are crafted from hard native woods, and it has a pair of runners with up-curved
02:52fore edges, straight aft edges, and rounded lower edges connected by cross pieces.
02:58The superstructure is made of smaller rails and bamboo cross pieces that sit on top all
03:02bound together with cordage.
03:04Beyond its thrill, though, the practice held significant ritual importance, serving as
03:08a religious ritual to honor the gods.
03:11The sport's blend of physical prowess, cultural significance, and communal engagement offers
03:15a unique glimpse into traditional Hawaiian society.
03:1913.
03:21Mahin Mahin is an ancient Egyptian board game named
03:25after the snake deity Mahin.
03:27The game dates back to the pre-dynastic period, around 3000 BC, and was played until the end
03:32of the Old Kingdom, around 2300 BC.
03:36Physical evidence of Mahin includes boards from those periods, with the earliest depictions
03:40in the tomb of Hesera, and its name first recorded in the tomb of Rehotep.
03:45Scenes from the 5th and 6th dynasties also illustrate people playing it.
03:49However, there are no records of the game being played during the Middle or New Kingdoms,
03:53indicating it fell out of favor in Egypt after the Old Kingdom.
03:56The game wasn't confined to just Egypt, it also appeared in locations such as Bab-ed-Dra
04:02and Cyprus.
04:03In Cyprus, Mahin boards often featured the opposite side of Senate boards.
04:07Mahin persisted in Cypriot culture longer than in Egypt, indicating the game's integration
04:12into local traditions.
04:14The gameplay and rules of Mahin remain unknown, but the Egyptian game board typically depicted
04:19a coiled snake divided into rectangular squares, with variations in the number of segments.
04:25Boards found in Cyprus and Levant featured spirals of depressions, with some having differentiated
04:30central or outer depressions.
04:33The number of segments or depressions varied, suggesting that this aspect wasn't crucial
04:37to the game's mechanics.
04:39Archaeological finds suggest that the game might have been played with lion or lioness-shaped
04:43pieces, in sets ranging from three to six, along with small spheres, possibly marbles
04:49or balls.
04:5012.
04:51PELOTA PUREPECHA The Purepecha ball game has been a significant
04:56cultural tradition for over 3,500 years.
04:59This ancient sport intertwines myth and symbolism far beyond a simple societal or recreational
05:06activity.
05:07According to legend, the game, often played with a rag ball, was created during the tumultuous
05:11birth of the planet Mars.
05:14When played with the ball, a flame, it symbolized the sun's journey across the sky, or the
05:18eternal struggle between night and day.
05:21Historical documents here reveal that two gods once clashed during a ball game, indicating
05:26the game's deep mythological roots.
05:28The Purepecha ball game has been passed down through the generations, from pre-Columbian
05:32times to the present.
05:34Each team consists of six players, and matches are divided into two 15-minute halves.
05:39Unique to this game, each athlete acts as their own referee, ensuring adherence to rules
05:44and fair play.
05:46The rules include always looking to the right, not switching the hand holding the cane, not
05:50turning their back on the opponent, not hitting the ball with limbs or your body, and avoiding
05:55assaulting opponents.
05:57In Purepecha cosmology, their people are even seen as born from their universe, embodying
06:02the struggle between the dualities such as the sun and moon, day and night, or man and
06:08woman.
06:09The court represents the universe, and the players are stars engaged in a cosmic battle.
06:13The fireball symbolizes the spirit and the god of fire, adding a spiritual element to
06:17the game.
06:1811.
06:19Chunky Chunky, also known as Chunky, or Chenko, or
06:25even Tuchunky, is a Native American game that involves rolling disc-shaped stones and throwing
06:31spears to land as close as possible to the stop stone.
06:35Originating around 600 CE near modern-day St. Louis, Missouri, Chunky was played in
06:40large arenas, some as expansive as 47 acres, designed to bring together diverse groups
06:45such as farmers, immigrants, visitors, and natives.
06:49The game persisted beyond the fall of the Mississippian culture around 1500 CE, with
06:54variations played through North America.
06:56The ethnographer James Adair translated the name Chunky to mean running hard labor, reflecting
07:02the game's physical demands.
07:05Gambling was commonly associated with Chunky, with participants often wagering their possessions
07:10on the game's outcome.
07:11The Falcon Dancer, or Warrior, a key figure in the southeastern ceremonial complex, was
07:17frequently depicted as a Chunky player, highlighting the game's cultural significance.
07:22Chunky held considerable value and influence across North America, far surpassing the scope
07:27of a mere game.
07:29It was a political tool used for diplomacy with other tribes, and served as a means for
07:33everyday peoples to settle their disputes.
07:36The trust in the game's results illustrates its role as a symbol of peaceful negotiation,
07:41both on a personal level and within a broader societal context.
07:45The game's cultural and political significance does highlight its multifaceted role in ancient
07:49North American society.
07:51Unlike modern games, which are often primarily recreational, Chunky integrated elements of
07:56diplomacy, conflict resolution, and societal cohesion.
08:0110.
08:02Chaturanga Now, chess is perhaps the most respected game
08:06of wits ever invented, played by intellectuals and adored among kings and noblemen in late
08:12medieval courts.
08:13It's got a long history, and it includes famous players measuring their skills against
08:18masters, garnering fanbases, and documenting legendary moves to outsmart opponents.
08:23The origins of chess remain debated, shrouded in myths that lend the game a mystic, almost
08:29religious dimension.
08:31Some legends claim that King Solomon invented the game, or that it was a gift from Hermes,
08:36the Greek messenger god.
08:38More grounded theories suggest it was created by a Chinese army commander named Han Xing
08:43in the first century BC to entertain his troops.
08:46However, the most plausible version is that chess was invented in India between the 5th
08:50and 7th centuries AD.
08:52Played on a 64-square black-and-white board known as the chessboard, chess offers an endless
08:57string of possibilities, making it resistant to drastic changes over the centuries.
09:03The ancient predecessor of chess, called chaturanga, featured different pieces.
09:08The rook, queen, and bishop were originally a chariot, a general, and an elephant.
09:13The Sanskrit word chaturanga means four divisions, or an army, reflecting the military-strategic
09:19nature of the game.
09:21Chaturanga, derived from an earlier Chinese board game, likely influenced several other
09:25board games in China, Korea, and Central Asia.
09:29Unlike the modern checkered chessboard, the chaturanga board, known as the ashtapatha,
09:34had 64 fields and certain markings.
09:37Scholars such as H.J.R.
09:38Murray suggest these markings were remnants from an older race-type board game that used
09:43dice for movement.
09:44The ashtapatha board predated chaturanga and carried over its markings purely as a tradition.
09:50Chess spread to Persia by 600 AD, where it was named Shah after the Persian ruling title.
09:56The word checkmate comes from the Persian phrase, the king is dead.
10:00The game evolved into a form resembling modern chess by this time, and Arabic merchants played
10:05a critical role in bringing chess to Europe through North African trade routes.
10:10From Spain, it then spread across Europe, reaching as far as northern Russia.
10:159.
10:16Go Go is an abstract strategy board game for
10:20two players in which the objective is to capture more territory than the opponent by fencing
10:25off empty spaces.
10:27Originating in China over 2,500 years ago, it's considered the oldest board game still
10:31played today.
10:32A 2016 survey by the International Go Federation reported that over 46 million people worldwide
10:38know how to play Go, with more than 20 million active players predominantly in East Asia.
10:44The earliest written reference to Go appears in the Zhouzhuan, a historical annal from
10:49the 4th century BC, which mentions the game in an event at 548 BC.
10:54The game is also discussed in Confucian texts, referred to as Yi.
10:59In China, Go is known as Weiqi, meaning encirclement board game.
11:03It was historically regarded as one of the four cultivated arts of the Chinese scholar
11:08Gentleman alongside calligraphy, painting, and playing the Guqin, a musical instrument.
11:14The game's rules were traditionally passed down orally rather than in written form.
11:18Go is a contest between two players aiming to capture territory by occupying and surrounding
11:23empty areas on the board with their stones.
11:26As the game progresses, players place stones to form groups and enclosed spaces.
11:31Stones are never moved once placed, but captured stones are removed from the board.
11:36Stones connect to each other by being adjacent along the board's lines.
11:39The game involves complex interactions between opposing formations, leading to expansions,
11:44reductions, or captures of territories known as eyes.
11:48A crucial aspect is controlling the offensive initiative, which forces the opponent into
11:52defensive moves.
11:54This control typically shifts multiple times during a game.
11:58Players aim to fence off territory, attack weak groups, and maintain the life status
12:02of their own groups.
12:03The game's complexity does include capturing races or semii, where the groups of stones
12:08compete for survival, and the group with more liberties or open spaces adjacent to stones
12:13usually prevails.
12:15The end game involves players passing when no profitable moves remain.
12:20The game concludes when both players pass or when one resigns.
12:25To determine the winner, each player counts the unoccupied points surrounding by their
12:28stones, subtracting the number of stones captured by the opponent.
12:32The player with the higher score, adjusted for handicaps like the Komi, wins the game.
12:36Go is so intricate that many researchers believe it helps to combat early-onset dementia and
12:41Alzheimer's.
12:428.
12:43Pankration
12:44Pankration was one of the most popular combat sports in ancient Greece, combining elements
12:50of wrestling and boxing while also allowing kicking.
12:54The name Pankration derives from the ancient Greek words pan and kratos meaning all-power,
13:00signifying the victor as the one who achieved complete control over his opponent.
13:04Participants known as Pankrationists were celebrated athletes, with figures like Polydemus
13:09and Thaginus standing out as dominant Olympic champions.
13:13The sport made its Olympic debut in 648 BC during the 33rd Olympiad and quickly captivated
13:18audiences with its diverse nature.
13:20Historically, fights could be brutal, with no restrictions apart from prohibiting eye-gouging
13:26and biting.
13:27The contest concluded when only one opponent was knocked out or conceded defeat by raising
13:32his index finger.
13:33As Greek society evolved and became more sophisticated, the intensity of the sport led to concerns
13:38about its safety.
13:40Consequently, the men's Pankration was gradually replaced by a less violent version for boys,
13:45which officially entered the games in 200 BC.
13:48Referees, armed with stout rods or switches, enforced the rules and had the authority to
13:52halt the fight if they deemed it too dangerous.
13:55This practice likely began after 200 BC, as judges took on a more active role in ensuring
14:01the safety of the athletes.
14:03Pankration's popularity extended beyond the Olympics, with numerous tournaments held across
14:07the Greek city-states.
14:09These events began with special rituals dedicated to the gods, highlighting the sport's cultural
14:14and religious significance.
14:15The Pankrationists competed for glory and honor, marking Pankration as one of the most
14:20esteemed and celebrated sports of Ancient Greece.
14:24Moving on to number 7, Senet.
14:27An ancient Egyptian board game, similar to modern games like Ludo or Backgammon, offers
14:32profound insights into ancient religious beliefs.
14:36This game was more than mere entertainment.
14:38It symbolized the journey of the Ba, an aspect of your soul, in the afterlife and it served
14:43as a medium for the dead to interact with the living.
14:46Recent studies of a Senet board in American museums suggest that the game, once simple,
14:51evolved into the game of death.
14:54The Egyptians were avid gamers, with Senet being the most popular game across all societal
14:59strata, from commoners to pharaohs and even their queens.
15:03Senet was widely played from 5,000 years ago until approximately 2,500 years ago, coinciding
15:09with the decline of pharaonic Egypt.
15:12The game involved rolling dice and moving counters along a grid-like board with 30 squares.
15:17The objective was to be the first to move all five counters to the finish, the 30th
15:22square.
15:23The squares immediately before the finish, squares 26 to 29, are thought to represent
15:27a miss a turn or go to jail, akin to a modern board game.
15:32Over time, the design of the Senet board evolved, incorporating religious symbolism.
15:37According to a science mag, early Senet boards had simple vertical lines on square 28, which
15:42later versions replaced with three hieroglyphic birds symbolizing the soul.
15:46Texts from the Middle Kingdom onward describe the game as a metaphor for the soul's journey
15:51in the Duat, the realm of the dead where the souls were judged for their worthiness.
15:55The precise moment when a simple dice game gained spiritual significance has long been
16:00elusive.
16:01However, a Senet board at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose, California is
16:05shedding new light on this transformation.
16:08The board, acquired by the Rosicrucians, is a mystical order, claiming esoteric knowledge
16:12from ancient times, and it has an uncertain origin.
16:16It was carved to resemble a small table and in poor condition.
16:20This Senet board is believed to mark the transition from a secular pastime to a spiritual artifact.
16:27Number 6.
16:28Harpastum Harpastum was an ancient Roman ball game derived
16:32from the Greek game Epikairos.
16:34This social ball game, also referred to as the small ball game, gained widespread popularity
16:39during the Roman Empire's dominance over Europe.
16:42Determining the exact period when Harpastum was played is challenging due to the scarcity
16:46of surviving evidence.
16:48However, archaeologists suggest this sport originated around the 5th century BC and remained
16:53popular for approximately 700-800 years.
16:56The name Harpastum comes from the ball used in the game.
16:59Both Harpastum and Epikairos were played in a similar manner, but little is known about
17:04their specific rules.
17:06Roman writing suggests that Harpastum resembled modern rugby or American football.
17:11The game demanded agility, speed, and endurance.
17:14The playing field was about the size of a modern hockey field, and Roman authors describe
17:18the Harpastum ball as relatively firm compared to a contemporary softball.
17:23There is speculation that Julius Caesar played Harpastum to maintain physical fitness, and
17:28soldiers were known to play the game, especially in preparation for battles.
17:32The primary objective was to keep the ball on one's half of the field for as long as
17:36possible.
17:37Players aimed to score by getting the ball over the opposing team's line, and they were
17:42allowed to tackle, wrestle, or fight to prevent the other team from retrieving the ball.
17:47The exact method of scoring and determining the winner does remain unclear.
17:52Harpastum was played with small balls made by stuffing chopped sponges or animal fur
17:55inside stitched leather skins, with a diameter of approximately 8 inches.
18:00As a team sport, it never appeared in the ancient Olympics.
18:03However, the game's popularity spread across Europe due to the Roman army's extensive conquests.
18:08This led to the introduction of similar ball games in other nations, particularly in Britain,
18:13where the Romans brought Harpastum during their expansion.
18:17Number 5.
18:18Hounds and Jackals Hounds and Jackals, also known as Dogs and
18:22Jackals, is an ancient Egyptian table game dating back approximately 4,000 years.
18:28Invented by Howard Carter in a Theban tomb during the 12th Dynasty, Carter unearthed
18:33one complete gaming set, which is now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
18:38The game consists of a rectangular board with two sets of 29 holes and 10 small sticks adorned
18:44with either a jackal or dog's heads.
18:47Evidence suggests that the Hounds and Jackals was invented around 2000 BC, and it gained
18:51popularity during the Middle Kingdom period of ancient Egypt.
18:55William Matthews Flinders Petrie first documented the game in 1890, and over 60 examples have
19:00since been found across Egypt, Mesopotamia, Israel, Syria, Iran, Azerbaijan, and the Levant.
19:07The gameplay involves two players, each taking five jackal or dog-headed sticks.
19:12The objective is to maneuver these sticks across the board's holes, possibly from one
19:16point to another.
19:18The game shares similarities with other ancient board games like 20 Squares or the Royal Game
19:22of Ur, and they're all race games for two players, often involving sticks or dice to
19:27determine turns and outcomes.
19:30Archaeological excavations have uncovered more than 68 game boards of Hounds and Jackals
19:34across various territories.
19:36The game's pieces have depicted animals like horses, cats, or sparrowhawks in addition
19:41to dogs and jackals.
19:42In April 2018, archaeologist Walter Christ discovered examples of 58 holes in Gobustan,
19:50suggesting Bronze Age herders in the region had contacts with the Near Eastern world.
19:55Ancient games like Hounds and Jackals often served as social lubricants, facilitating
20:00cultural exchanges and interactions across different societies.
20:05Number 4.
20:06Naumatia The naval gladiator battles of ancient Rome,
20:10known as Naumatia, provided a thrilling and grandiose spectacle that enthralled crowds.
20:16These events were not only displays of violence, but also showcased the technological prowess
20:20of the Roman Empire, featuring impressive waterworks and grandstands capable of accommodating
20:25thousands of spectators.
20:27The concept of Naumatia was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, following his victory
20:32over Pompey the Great.
20:34Seeking to celebrate his triumph and demonstrate his power, Caesar orchestrated the first Naumatia
20:39by constructing a basin near the river Tiber to simulate a naval battle.
20:44These events were meticulously staged reenactments of historic naval battles, often involving
20:48hundreds or thousands of combatants and rowers.
20:53Participants known as Naumatiari were typically prisoners of war or convicts, although professional
20:58gladiators did participate.
21:00Despite the immense popularity, Naumatias were rare occurrences due to the immense planning
21:04and expense required to stage one.
21:07To reduce some costs, though, some later Naumatias were held on natural bodies of water, although
21:11these were often in smaller scale.
21:14After falling out of favor in ancient times, the tradition of Naumatia was revived during
21:18the Renaissance period, reflecting a renewed interest in antiquity.
21:22These modern interpretations of Naumatia, though less bloody, retained the spectacle
21:27of their ancient predecessors.
21:29Naumatias also found their way to England, Scotland, France, and Spain, where they were
21:32staged as elaborate affairs or scaled-down mock battles in parks.
21:37Evolving over the centuries, the enduring appeal of Naumatia as a display of power highlights
21:43the timeless fascination with grand spectacles and historical reenactments.
21:483.
21:50Water Jousting Throughout ancient history, violent sports
21:54captivated audiences with their displays of bloodshed and brutality.
21:59From the gladiatorial combats of ancient Rome to the Mayan ball game and chariot racing
22:04in ancient Greece, these spectacles thrilled crowds with their intensity and their danger.
22:10One such violent sport from ancient Egypt was water jousting, also known as fisherman's
22:15jousting, which bears similarities to modern water jousting practiced in various European
22:19countries.
22:20Originating around 2800 BC, fisherman jousting was initially devised by the ancient Egyptians
22:25as a means to resolve disputes and conflicts.
22:29Men would engage in combat using long poles with razor-sharp points, attempting to knock
22:34their opponents off papyrus-reed boats and into the Nile River.
22:38The stakes were high as most participants couldn't swim, leaving them vulnerable to
22:42the threat of drowning or attacks by crocodiles and hippopotamuses lurking beneath the surface.
22:47As the sport evolved, it spread to ancient Greece following Alexander the Great's conquest
22:51in 332 BC, eventually making its way to the Romans.
22:55By the late medieval period, water jousting had gained popularity, with crusaders using
23:00it as a team-building exercise before departing for war.
23:03The sport's popularity continued to grow, eventually crossing the English Channel on
23:07to England.
23:08Queen Elizabeth I was reportedly greeted with the spectacle of water jousting at Sandwich,
23:13sparking a local interest in the sport.
23:16Water jousting became ingrained in maritime culture, with competitions held to inaugurate
23:20maritime ports by the middle of the 17th century.
23:23Today, water jousting has evolved into a more sanitized form of its ancient counterpart.
23:29Each boat features a jouster and ten oarsmen, accompanied by a drummer and an oboist playing
23:34medieval tunes.
23:35The jouster wears protective gear and wields a wooden lance and shield, standing on a raised
23:40platform at the front of the boat.
23:42When the two boats charge at each other, the jouster who falls first is declared the loser,
23:47sparking a distinct departure from the perilous contests of ancient Egypt's Nile River.
23:522.
23:54Nine Men's Morris Nine Men's Morris, a strategic board game
23:58dating back to at least the Roman Empire, has left its mark on history through various
24:02archaeological discoveries and literary mentions.
24:06The game, akin to modern checkers, involves two players maneuvering their respective sets
24:10of nine pieces across a grid-like board, aiming to form rows of three pieces called mills
24:16to capture their opponent's pieces.
24:18The game is also known as mill, mills, or merrills, and has been referenced in literature,
24:23including Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
24:26Additionally, it's been referred to as cowboy checkers in North America, where it sometimes
24:30appears on the reverse side of checkerboards.
24:33Despite its historical significance, Nine Men's Morris is a solved game, meaning its
24:37optimal strategy has been calculated, resulting in a draw with perfect play from both sides.
24:43The game unfolds in three phases, placement, movement, and flying.
24:48During the placement phase, players take turns positioning their pieces on empty intersections.
24:53Forming a mill during this phase allows a player to remove one of their opponent's
24:56pieces.
24:57In the movement phase, players alternate moving their pieces adjacent to intersections, aiming
25:02to maintain their mills and hinder their opponent.
25:05Flying, introduced when one player is reduced to three pieces, allows pieces to move freely
25:10to any vacant intersection, adding a strategic element to the endgame.
25:15Strategic gameplay involves balancing the formation of the mills with maintaining versatility
25:19across the board.
25:20A winning position often involves shuttling a piece between two mills to remove an opponent's
25:25piece each turn.
25:27Variations in gameplay exist, though, with some sources considering flying a standard
25:31rule and others treating it as a variation.
25:34And if you look a bit closer at Nine Men's Morris, it looks an awful lot like one of
25:37the first games many children learn in school, tic-tac-toe.
25:41Well, while we'll never fully know if the two aren't long-lost cousins, it's safe
25:45to say that at least they've lived in the same neighborhood.
25:491.
25:50Kazivaki When most people think of rugby, Tonga is
25:54not typically at the forefront of their minds.
25:57However, the island nation in the South Pacific has its own ancient version of the game with
26:01a unique twist – Tongan rugby was played underwater.
26:06Known as Kazivaki, this game, according to the Tongan tradition, was played before kings
26:11and chiefs.
26:12Some Tongans are now interested in reviving a modernized version of the game to celebrate
26:16and preserve the culture.
26:18Kazivaki was played underwater between two soft coral rocks.
26:22The participants were all male, and the sport was often performed in front of chiefs or
26:26ancient kings of Tonga.
26:27The objective of the game was to transport a rock across the underwater playing field
26:31to the other side while fending off the opposing team.
26:35Successfully doing so scored a try, and one of the social functions of the game was to
26:39impress the chief or the king.
26:41Winners of the game could be awarded land or titles, as was the case for a chief named
26:45Tokemoana.
26:46It's said that the game was pretty dangerous, with many men drowning while playing it.
26:51It was banned by a king because it was just too much.
26:54The danger involved, though, likely made participation and victory a sign of bravery and strength.
27:00While the game is often associated with entertainment and sports, it likely held a deeper
27:05significance.
27:06Similar to the Mesoamerican ball game or the ancient Olympics, Kazivaki may have been a
27:11religious or ceremonial event, as it was a sporting one.
27:15The game could have had a deeper social, political, or spiritual connection to the Tongan way
27:19of life, beyond its role as entertainment.
27:22Tonga was first settled about 3,000 years ago during the expansion of the Lapita culture,
27:26known for its distinctive pottery and early settlement of the islands in the western Pacific.
27:31The ancient inhabitants of Oceania often defined themselves by the entire Pacific Ocean
27:36or Moana Nui, not just by individual islands.
27:40Playing an underwater game would have been a way to demonstrate one's ability to navigate
27:44and endure the ocean's challenges, thus earning greater social prestige.
27:49Winning and surviving such a game would have been crucial for a Tonga man, leading to rewards
27:54like land and titles in a society where survival and navigation of the ocean were paramount.
28:00Thanks for watching everyone, I'll see you next time.