Diritta

Diritta was a sport played in ancient Aciria by the ancient Glaistic people. While the origins of the sport are unknown, the rules of the game are well recorded due to the efforts of ancient Istroyan and Latin scholars. The game progressively lost its popularity with people following the introduction of Christianity into the area, partially due to the cruel nature the players were treated, but some traditions of Diritta survived into modern day with the modern Montanaro sport of the same name.

The sport enjoyed popularity among all social classes, with the upper classes often being the "patrons" of the teams, and gambling on the teams was commonplace.

Remains of a Diritta ballcourt in southern Aciria.

Etymology

Istroyan scholar Destekles wrote that the name of the sport means "Right of Freedom", referring to the fact that the players often were either imprisoned or enslaved. The winners of grand tournaments were granted freedom, which was enough motivation for players to continue taking part in the dangerous sport, even with the risk of injury or even death.

Origins

The simplicity of the sport suggests it could've been played far into prehistory, but the lack of courts or other items used to play it means that there is little evidence for its origins. The earliest ballcourt is dated around 800 BC and its location in southeastern Aciria suggests the game might've been brought to Aciria from elsewhere, perhaps meaning a game similar to Diritta was played in the homelands of the ancestors of the Glaistic people.

The courts vary from elaborate structures to simple stone foundations on the ground, with perhaps wood or other materials for other structures regarding the game. The more elaborate courts have often been accompanied by discoveries of the Laal, the traditional stone ball used to play the game.

Rules

The length of the court varied over time and region, but generally they played on a 30 meter court with the goal being roughly the same size as the Laal itself: a team gained a point if a player managed to throw or push the Laal through the hole.

There haven't been any recorded rules regarding limitations of violence on the court, but Destekles also detailed his surprise on how civil the game was despite a lack of limitation on violence. Most injuries or deaths stemmed from being struck by the Laal as opposed to purposefully being attacked by a member of the opposing team.

Equipment

Diritta's origins as a game played by slaves and prisoners meant that the equipment granted, or needed, was minimal. The equipment used changed drastically over time when more rules were added into the game alongside with the game's safer alternatives were adopted by the general public, with various regional differences in the sport also assumed to have existed.

Gear

Destekles' early writings about Diritta detailed the teams playing in nothing but their undergarments. The continuation of his work later on the same topic detailed the undergarments to have been dyed a different shade to allow players and viewers alike to distinguish their team from one another. Approximately a century later, rules carved into the wall of a ballcourt detailed the need for "tunics of distinctly different shades" for both of the teams if they were to play on this particular court.

Later texts showed more elaborate rules for both the game and the gear needed, or allowed, for the players: the owner of the team was allowed to grant a "helmet of metal" to the leader of the team alongside with three pads of metal were acceptable to be distributed to other players: it wasn't described whether or not the three pads could be used by one player, or if they all had to go to different individuals. The poorer regions of the country shared these rules, but instead of metal settled on wooden or leather protection.

While not encouraged in the rules, it was also noted by some scholars that well-off teams often were outfitted with various jewelry for important games.

Ball

It's thought that the earliest forms of Diritta were played with either naturally rounded rocks that were discovered, but as time went on the rules regarding the ball became more elaborate. The ball, known as "Laal", was expected to "fit in the palm and weigh as much as a head", as detailed by a carving discovered in the wall of a ballcourt. The balls discovered later on generally still were of stone, but manmade into the familiar round shape: some balls of silver have been discovered, but their rarity suggests they were used ceremonially, or perhaps as a type of trophy granted for the winning team.

The Diritta played by the masses, however, preferred balls carved of wood, which more often than not were lighter than the head as dictated by the professional rules. This was likely a product of fear for their own health.

Diplomatic use

There is at least one recorded instance of competing kingdoms using their most prolific Diritta teams to solve a diplomatic incident instead of open warfare.