Sport in the Ancient World

Sports in Ancient Greece included the triple jump, javelin, discus, wrestling, boxing, sprinting, pankration, and four-horse chariot races. As noted in the short film Ancient Olympia “losers were disgraced and forgotten”, the games played were all about winning, just as they are today.  However, In Ancient Greece woman were not permitted to attend the Olympia games, the only woman allowed to enter the stadium was the sister of Zeus: Hestia. During this period sports were both viewed as a function of religion and entertainment for men and Greek men only, with the one exception.

Sport in Ancient Rome was also reserved for men and where they engaged in many of the same sports. However, while wrestling and races were practiced Roman gladiatorial combat seems to have been the most popular sporting event. This kind of live combat that aloud criminals, slaves, and war prisoners to fight for their freedom in the arena with humans and animal created amusement that was unmatched. As National Geographic points out in Gladiator Training, Gladiators were “caged performing animals”, meaning these individuals were under lockdown and forced to constantly train for such quote on quote games.  During this events the fighters’ well being was never much of a concern; rather the audience was focused on the thrill and excitement that these matches created. Which in some ways is consistent in sports even today, when we look at contact sports such as football or hockey much of the same callousness is still evident. For example, when a player from the opposing side gets injured it is common to see fans celebrate. Last year Kansas City fans even cheered when their own quarterback: Matt Cassel got injured, because of their own team’s poor play. All of which is extremely interesting because these acts highlight the barbaric nature of humans that exists even today, even when we continually try our best to argue otherwise.