This scene is of a game of Toli, also known as “the little brother to war,” being played atop Emerald Mound during the Mississippian Plaquemine era, about 600 to 700 years ago. Toli was a game that evolved into modern day Stickball, which is still played by the Chickasaw today. This early version of the game was played using bare hands and without the traditional sticks that evolved later. Players and other people living there at that time were often heavily tattooed with patterns such as those you see in this painting.
Emerald Mound was a ceremonial center and is the second largest Mississippian era mound in the country. It has a flat top covering about eight acres and is 35 feet tall. The game is being watched from on high by The Great Sun, a semi-divine chief and his entourage. They are standing in front of a ceremonial building atop the smaller mound beyond the game field.
Emerald Mound
This scene is of a game of Toli, also known as “the little brother to war,” being played atop Emerald Mound during the Mississippian Plaquemine era, about 600 to 700 years ago. Toli was a game that evolved into modern day Stickball, which is still played by the Chickasaw today. This early version of the game was played using bare hands and without the traditional sticks that evolved later. Players and other people living there at that time were often heavily tattooed with patterns such as those you see in this painting.
Emerald Mound was a ceremonial center and is the second largest Mississippian era mound in the country. It has a flat top covering about eight acres and is 35 feet tall. The game is being watched from on high by The Great Sun, a semi-divine chief and his entourage. They are standing in front of a ceremonial building atop the smaller mound beyond the game field.