Patolli is an ancient board and race game played by the Aztec and other pre-Columbian peoples of Mesoamerica, played on a cross-shaped path marked on a mat, in which players moved markers according to throws of marked beans used as dice, often with heavy wagering on the outcome. The game held religious significance and was associated with the god Macuilxochitl, and Spanish colonial accounts from the sixteenth century describe it being played widely at the time of contact, though the game was later suppressed under colonial rule. It is one of the best-documented board games of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica.
Facts
Originating Region Game TypeRace game with gambling 2 Classification
Player Count Sport
Game Type (category) In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wikipedia (German): Patolli
Wikipedia (German)Article text (player count)Quote, Article text (player count)
Gespielt haben zwei Personen oder zwei Gruppen gegeneinander.
2. Patolli (Wikipedia)
History section
Patolli and variant or similar games were played by a wide range of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures and were known all over Mesoamerica.
Lead section, classification
Patolli is a race game with a heavy focus on gambling.
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