''Episkyros'', or ''Episcyrus'', (, ; also , , literally 'upon the public') was an
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic pe ...
ball game. The game was typically played between two teams of 12 to 14 players each, being highly teamwork-oriented.
[
] The game allowed full contact and usage of the hands. While it was typically men who played, women also occasionally participated.
Although it was a ball game, it was quite violent (at least in
Sparta
Sparta ( Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta referr ...
).
The game is comparable to
Rugby
Rugby may refer to:
Sport
* Rugby football in many forms:
** Rugby league: 13 players per side
*** Masters Rugby League
*** Mod league
*** Rugby league nines
*** Rugby league sevens
*** Touch (sport)
*** Wheelchair rugby league
** Rugby union: 1 ...
,
American Football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
, or ''
Calcio Fiorentino
''Calcio Fiorentino'' (also known as ''calcio storico'' "historic football") is an early form of football ( soccer and rugby) that originated during the Middle Ages in Italy. Once widely played, the sport is thought to have started in the ''Pi ...
'', at least in concept. The two teams would attempt to throw the ball over the heads of the other team. There was a white line called the ()
between the teams, and another white line behind each team. The teams would change possession of the ball often, until one of the team was forced behind their line. In Sparta, a form of ''Episkyros'' was played during an annual city festival that included five teams of 14 players.
[
] The Greek game of ''Episkyros'', or a similar game called ()
was later adopted by the Romans, who renamed and transformed it into ''
Harpastum
, also known as , was a form of ball game played in the Roman Empire. The Romans also referred to it as the small ball game. The ball used was small (not as large as a , , or football-sized ball) and hard, probably about the size and solidity of ...
''.
[
"''Harpastum''" is the latinisation of the Ancient Greek (), meaning "snatched away"
from the verb (), meaning "I seize" or "I filch."
A depiction on a vase displayed at the ]National Archaeological Museum, Athens
The National Archaeological Museum ( el, Εθνικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο) in Athens houses some of the most important artifacts from a variety of archaeological locations around Greece from prehistory to late antiquity. It i ...
[ shows a Greek athlete balancing a ball on his thigh. This image is reproduced on the European Cup football trophy.][
Other ancient Greek sports with a ball besides ''Episkyros'' were: (, ]dribbling
In sports, dribbling is maneuvering a ball by one player while moving in a given direction, avoiding defenders' attempts to intercept the ball. A successful dribble will bring the ball past defenders legally and create opportunities to score.
A ...
), (, "sky ball")[
and maybe (, )
from
( "ball", "sphere")
and
(, "battle"),][
]
though it has been argued that the ''Sphairomakhia'' in this context is rather a boxing competition, and the ''sphairai'' were a form of boxing gloves
Boxing gloves are cushioned gloves that fighters wear on their hands during boxing matches and practices. Unlike "fist-load weapons" (such as the ancient cestus) which were designed as a lethal weapon, modern boxing gloves are non-lethal, desig ...
.[
]Julius Pollux
Julius Pollux ( el, Ἰούλιος Πολυδεύκης, ''Ioulios Polydeukes''; fl. 2nd century) was a Greek scholar and rhetorician from Naucratis, Ancient Egypt.Andrew Dalby, ''Food in the Ancient World: From A to Z'', p.265, Routledge, 2003
E ...
includes ' and ''harpastum'' in a list of ball games:
:''Phaininda'' takes its name from Phaenides, who first invented it, or from ''phenakizein'' (to deceive), because they show the ball to one man and then throw to another, contrary to expectation. It is likely that this is the same as the game with the small ball, which takes its name from ''harpazein'' (to snatch) and perhaps one would call the game with the soft ball by the same name.[
]
See also
*''Harpastum
, also known as , was a form of ball game played in the Roman Empire. The Romans also referred to it as the small ball game. The ball used was small (not as large as a , , or football-sized ball) and hard, probably about the size and solidity of ...
''
*'' Trigon''
* History of football
*American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
*History of physical training and fitness
Physical training has been present in human societies throughout history. Usually, it was performed for the purposes of preparing for physical competition or display, improving physical, emotional and mental health, and looking attractive. It ...
Notes
References
{{Association football
Ancient Greek sports
Ball games
Team sports