Patolli was a game played on an X-shaped mat with four divisions and 52 squares. Somewhat like backgammon, the purpose of the game was to get three pebbles in a row. White beans were marked as dice and thrown. Each player moved his six different-colored pebbles around the board to try to line them up. Based on the Aztec calendar, the board had 52 parts, like the Aztec ritual cycle of 52 years. In patolli tournaments, heavy bets were placed on the outcome of the game, and some players lost their homes, fields, corn granaries, cactus plants, and even sold their wives and children into slavery. Top Image: Patolli player Center Image: Patolli game board