Athletes XXXVI: Athletes and Trainers
Krater fragment decorated with boxing athletes and trainers with staffs.
The gymnasium, ruled by the gymnasiarch, was a place where new ideas were transmitted along with the teaching of reading, recitation, philosophy, grammar, rhetoric, music. Along with their theoretical educations, children undertook physical training, which continued during their adolescent years. Physical education was a state obligation and was assigned to the “paedotribes” (trainers) in the gymnasium and the palestra. The aim was to achieve the harmonious cultivation of body and spirit, in order to prepare the youths for their upcoming military training. “Gymnasium” as well “gymnastics” comes from the adjective “gymnos” (nude) due to the ancient Greek habit of training without any clothes on.
Source: Museum notice
Attic black-figured krater fragment
Ca. 525 - 500 BC
From Ancient Akamthos
Thessaloniki, Archaeological Museum – Inv. No. 14900
Athletes XXXVI: Athletes and Trainers
Krater fragment decorated with boxing athletes and trainers with staffs.
The gymnasium, ruled by the gymnasiarch, was a place where new ideas were transmitted along with the teaching of reading, recitation, philosophy, grammar, rhetoric, music. Along with their theoretical educations, children undertook physical training, which continued during their adolescent years. Physical education was a state obligation and was assigned to the “paedotribes” (trainers) in the gymnasium and the palestra. The aim was to achieve the harmonious cultivation of body and spirit, in order to prepare the youths for their upcoming military training. “Gymnasium” as well “gymnastics” comes from the adjective “gymnos” (nude) due to the ancient Greek habit of training without any clothes on.
Source: Museum notice
Attic black-figured krater fragment
Ca. 525 - 500 BC
From Ancient Akamthos
Thessaloniki, Archaeological Museum – Inv. No. 14900