Ulama is a Mesoamerican ballgame dating back more than 3,500 years. It is considered a direct descendant of the ballgame played by cultures such as the Olmec, Maya, and Mexica civilizations, in whose ceremonial centers specific courts were built for its practice. This game is characterized by the use of a solid ball made of natural rubber—a material originating in Mesoamerica—which can weigh several kilograms.

Depending on the variant, players strike it with their hip, forearm, or a wooden mallet, without allowing it to touch the ground outside the established boundaries. Beyond its sporting aspect, ulama held profound ritual and symbolic significance: it represented the movement of the stars, the balance between opposing forces, and, in some contexts, was linked to cosmogonic myths such as those narrated in the Popol Vuh. 

Enjoy an exhibition on the main esplanade of the Cuicuilco Archaeological Zone, south of Mexico City.