It is, however, not a work of art at all that is perhaps the most interesting thing in the Museo; but a model of the _Giuoco del Ponte_, with certain banners, flags, bucklers, and such, once used by the Pisans in their national game.[68] This _Giuoco_ was played on the Ponte di Mezzo, by the people who lived on the north bank of the river and those on the south, nor were the country folk excluded; and Mr. Heywood tells us that it was no uncommon sight a quarter of a century ago "to see hanging above the doorway of a contadino's house the _targone_ [or shield] with which his sires played at Ponte."[69] The city and countryside being thus divided into two camps, as it were, each chose an army, that was divided into six _squadre_ of from thirty to sixty _soldati_. The _squadre_ of the north were, Santa Maria with a banner of blue and white; San Michele, whose colours were white and red; the Calci, white and green and gold; Calcesana, yellow and black; the Mattaccini, white, blue, and peach-blossom; the Satiri, red and black. The southern _squadre_ were called S. Antonio, whose banner was of flame colour, on which was a pig; S. Martino, with a banner of white, black, and red; San Marco, with a banner of white and yellow with a winged lion, and under its feet was the gospel, on which was written _Pax tibi Marce_; the Leoni, with a banner of black and white; the Dragoni, with a banner of green and white; the Delfini, with a banner of blue and yellow. All these banners were of silk, and very large.[70] Originally the game was played on St. Anthony's day, the 17th of January; later, this first game came to be a sort of trial match, in which the players were chosen for the _Battaglia generale_, which took place on some later date agreed upon by both parties. Thus, I suppose, if any noble visited Pisa, the _Battaglia generale_ would be fought in his honour. The challenge of the side defeated at the last contest having been received, a council of war was held in both camps, and permission being given by the authorities, on that evening, the city was illuminated. The great procession (the _squadre_ in each camp, in the order in which I have named them) took place on the day of battle, each army keeping to its own side of Arno. Then the Piazza del Ponte for the northern army, the Piazza de' Bianchi for the southern, were enclosed with palisades to form the camps, and the battle began.