Palma in the Shape of a Quetzal

Along with the yoke and the hacha, the palma is one of the three main classes of objects associated with the Mesoamerican ballgame. The word palma means palm frond in Spanish, and the shape of some of these stone objects resemble palm fronds. They probably functioned in a manner similar to hachas—as ceremonial regalia inserted into the yoke (belt) worn by the players—and may have largely replaced hachas, which are generally less tall and more rounded, by the Early Postclassic period, around A.D. 900. This palma represents a bird of prey sitting on a roughly triangular base. The sharp beak, large crest, and spread wings of the bird create a highly aggressive impression, well-suited to the demeanor required of a ballplayer.