Hobbies And Interests
Episkyros and Harpastum
Played in the nude, episkyros (played by the ancient Greeks) and harpastum (a similar game adopted and played by the ancient Romans) were an early precursor to the American football and rugby of today. Though both ball sports were primarily played by men, there is also some evidence that women played, as well. The object of the games was to keep the ball on your team's side of the field (fields for these competitions were split down the center). The object of the game was to get the ball in order to move it into your own team's zone and goal area. Much like American football and rugby, tackling and strategy evolved as major components of the game.
Wrestling
Wrestling was a key sport among the men of ancient Greece and Rome. In fact, not only was this sport part of the pentathlon competition, it was an Olympic contest in its own right, and was later combined with boxing to create the ancient Olympic sport of pancratium. Though wrestling held onto more rules than boxing (for example, no biting), the sport was tough (breaking fingers to win WAS permitted); to win a match, a competitor had to pin his opponent to the ground three times in certain positions, such as the loser's hip, shoulder or back.
Pentathlon
The pentathlon was a competition held at the ancient Greek Olympics that truly tested the endurance and strength of its competitors. Consisting of five events (sprinting, long-jumping, javelin-throwing, discus-throwing and wrestling), the pentathlon was the ultimate test of young men who wanted to gain the respect of Greece and alleged praise from the gods. The Olympics, held at the Greek city of Olympia once every four years for nearly a week, consisted of numerous events, but the pentathlon was the event that usually closed the festival that celebrated just how important athleticism and might were to the ancient Mediterranean cultures.