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Description
The Classic Central Veracruz culture refers to a cultural area in the north and central areas of the present-day Mexican state of Veracruz, a culture that existed from roughly 100 to 1000 CE. The Classic Veracruz culture was seemingly obsessed with the ballgame. Every cultural center had at least one ballcourt, while up to 17 ballcourts have been found at El Tajin.
The ballgame rituals appear throughout Classic Veracruz monumental art. The walls of largest ballcourt, the South Ballcourt at El Tajin are lined with carved murals showing human sacrifice in the context of the ballgame. The culmination of these murals is a tableau showing the rain god, who pierces his penis (an act of bloodletting) to replenish a vat of the alcoholic, ritual drink pulque, the apparent desired end result of the ballgame ritual sacrifice.

Description
The Classic Central Veracruz culture refers to a cultural area in the north and central areas of the present-day Mexican state of Veracruz, a culture that existed from roughly 100 to 1000 CE. The Classic Veracruz culture was seemingly obsessed with the ballgame. Every cultural center had at least one ballcourt, while up to 17 ballcourts have been found at El Tajin.
The ballgame rituals appear throughout Classic Veracruz monumental art. The walls of largest ballcourt, the South Ballcourt at El Tajin are lined with carved murals showing human sacrifice in the context of the ballgame. The culmination of these murals is a tableau showing the rain god, who pierces his penis (an act of bloodletting) to replenish a vat of the alcoholic, ritual drink pulque, the apparent desired end result of the ballgame ritual sacrifice.