Ancient Greek boxing dates back to at least the eighth century BC (Homer's Iliad), and was practiced in a variety of social contexts in different Greek city-states. Most extant sources about ancient Greek boxing
are fragmentary or legendary, making it difficult to reconstruct the
rules, customs and history surrounding this activity in great detail.
Still, it is clear that gloved boxing bouts were a significant part of
ancient Greek athletic culture throughout the early classical period.
Chariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine sports. Chariot racing
was often dangerous to both driver and horse as they frequently
suffered serious injury and even death, but generated strong spectator
enthusiasm. In the ancient Olympic Games, as well as the other Panhellenic Games, the sport was one of the most important equestrian events.
In the Roman form of chariot racing, teams represented different
groups of financial backers and sometimes competed for the services of
particularly skilled drivers. These teams became the focus of intense
support among spectators, and occasional disturbances broke out between
followers of different factions. The conflicts sometimes became
politicized, as the sport began to transcend the races themselves and
started to affect society overall. This helps explain why Roman and later Byzantine emperors took control of the teams and appointed many officials to oversee them.
The sport faded in importance after the fall of Rome in the West,
surviving only for a time in the Byzantine Empire, where the
traditional Roman factions continued to play a prominent role for some
time, gaining influence in political matters. Their rivalry culminated
in the Nika riots, which marked the gradual decline of the sport.
Diaulos was a double-stadion race (ca. 400 m.) introduced in the 14th Olympiad of the ancient Olympics (724 BC).
Scholars debate whether or not the runners had individual "turning"
posts for the return leg of the race, or whether all the runners
approached a common post, turned, and then raced back to the starting
line.[1][2]
The discus throw is the subject of a number of well-known ancient Greek statues and Roman copies such as the Discobolus and Discophoros.
Dolichos or Dolichus in ancient Olympics was a long-race (ca. 4800 m) introduced in 720 BC.
Separate accounts of the race present conflicting evidence as to the
actual length of the dolichos. However, the average stated length of the
race was approximately 18-24 laps, or about three miles. The event was
run similarly to modern marathons
- the runners would begin and end their event in the stadium proper,
but the race course would wind its way through the Olympic grounds. The
course would often flank important shrines and statues in the sanctuary,
passing by the Nike statue by the temple of Zeus before returning to the stadium.[1][2]
The hoplitodromos or hoplitodromia ("race of soldiers") was an ancient foot race, part of the Olympic Games and the other Panhellenic Games. It was the last foot race to be added to the Olympics, first appearing at the 65th Olympics in 520 BC, and was traditionally the last foot race to be held.[1]
Unlike the other races, which were generally run in the nude, the hoplitodromos required competitors to run wearing the helmet and greaves of the hoplite infantryman from which the race took its name. Runners also carried the aspis, the hoplites' bronze-covered wood shield, bringing the total encumbrance to at least 50 pounds. As the hoplitodromos
was one of the shorter foot races, the heavy armor and shield was less a
test of endurance than one of sheer muscular strength. After 450 BC, the use of greaves was abandoned; however, the weight of the shield and helmet remained substantial.[2]
The long jump was one of the events of the pentathlon of the original
Olympics in Ancient Greece. The long jump was the only known jumping
event in these Ancient Olympic Games. All events that occurred at the
Olympic Games were initially supposed to act as a form of training for
warfare. The long jump emerged probably because it mirrored the crossing
of obstacles such as streams and ravines.[2]
After investigating the surviving depictions of the ancient event it is
believed that unlike the modern day event, athletes were only allowed a
short running start.[2] The athletes carried a weight in each hand, which were called halteres
(between 1 and 4.5 kg). These weights were swung forward as the athlete
jumped in order to increase momentum. It is commonly believed that the
jumper would throw the weights behind him in mid-air to increase his
forward momentum; however, halteres were held throughout the duration of
the jump.
Pankration was a martial art introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC and founded as a blend of boxing and wrestling but with almost no rules save disallowing biting and gouging the opponent's eyes out. The term comes from the Greek παγκράτιον [paŋkrátion], literally meaning "all powers" from πᾶν (pan-) "all" + κράτος (kratos)
"strength, power". Spartans were taught to use this ancient technique
with the sole purpose of fighting and killing on the battlefield. For
that reason, Spartans were not allowed to participate in any competition
including other Greeks.
The Ancient Olympic pentathlon was an athletic contest at the Ancient Olympic Games, and other Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece. The name derives from Greek, combining the words pende (five) and -athlon (competition). Five events were contested over one day, starting with the long jump, javelin throw, and discus throw, followed by the stadion (a short foot race) and wrestling. Pentathletes were considered to be among the most skilled athletes, and their training was often part of military service—each of the five events was thought to be useful in battle. It was the first documented type of pentathlon,
a competition composed of five distinct events, and was the precursor
to all competitions of this type, to which it lends its name.
Greek wrestling, also known as Ancient Greek wrestling and Pále (πάλη), was the most popular organized sport in Ancient Greece.
A point was scored when one player touched the ground with his
back,hip,shoulder,or tapped out due to a submission-hold or was forced
out of the wrestling-area. Three points had to be scored to win the
match.
One particularly important position in this form of wrestling was one
where one of the contestants was lying on his belly with the other on
his back trying to strangle him. The athlete on the bottom would try to
grasp an arm of the one on top and turn him over onto his back while the
athlete on top would try to complete the choke without being rolled.
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