Sports in the Ancient World

As soon as this video started I noticed they were (basically) naked, but then I remembered what year that was and what time in day we were. My simple reaction to that reflects a lot of what we see in today's world and how nudity (at least among men) is not completely accepted. During the Olympics back then, their bodies were completely worshiped, they were compared to their Gods. In this way, sports became tied to religion. As opposed to the suiting that Gladiators wore, the Greek were defenseless when it came to that.

Their sports were brutal and although there was some form of regulation, there seems to be none based on current rulings. When they fought, boxed, there were no gloves, skin on skin. Even in MMA/UFC fights they ave some sort of small protection on their hands.

They mention that anyone had the opportunity to participate in these events. From the wealthiest men to the poorest men, it really was a level playing field. Since the training was so intense, the men who did not have wealth could dedicate themselves entirely to the commitment and eventually dedicate their lives to the sport. These games were highly respected among the society. Now a days, there are drafts and generally from college athletes. It is pretty amazing that back then they accepted anyone who took the time and had the dedication to undergo the training necessary to compete in the Olympics. Also, the huge prize of money that was given could be a real game changer if the man to win was in fact poor.

One of the things I found the most interesting was how they were punished for a "false start". In football, if the start before the play, they get a flag and maybe a few yards penalty, not in Ancient Greece. The guilty were whipped in front of over 40,000 spectators. 

Regarding females in this event, only ONE woman was allowed to be present. Yes, that sounds and is ridiculous but there are still places in the world, such as Saudi Arabia, that do not allow women to step foot into their stadiums. I found this article of a recent uproar when American women entered a stadium, they had to get a letter from the Shoura Council to be able to get inside and watch the game. ( http://www.arabnews.com/news/513816 ) 

Since the beginning of time, we have been conditioned to love and thrive on the violence that sport brings and the competitiveness. The Olympics in Ancient Greece prove it, the Gladiators fights prove it, and now even the rough sport of American football proves it.