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Surprising little has changed in sports since the Greek and Roman athletes competed for prizes in boxing, javelin- throwing, discus, jumping, wrestling, and pankration. Even as today, money was a motivator for competition. However, there were differences that a modern athlete would fine difficult over the course of many years. The rules and regulations have been modified in favor of the athlete. The technology of today has changed the way athletes trained for major events. Over many years technique has improved with the help of technology and with experienced athletes. In ancient Roman and Greek times, one sport men participated in was boxing. In ancient boxing there was no weight classification. The ancient Roman and Greek boxers competed against big and small also stronger and weaker competitors. Once the boxing began there was no stopping until one of the boxers were knocked out or until one would raise his hand to acknowledge defeat (Harris 22). The mathematical geniuses they were never realized how important it was to use a bye (Harris 23). A bye is when there are an irregular number of entries and the best one moves forward. This is effective only in the first round (Webster 54). In Greek and Roman boxing it was
their hands. Other times they turn around and receive it on the broad of the back. So it can make the body muscular and give it tone. Also, it is a powerful exercise for the shoulders and the whole frame (Harris 25)." In competition the Greeks practiced only the long jump. It was useful for traveling quickly across the Greek countryside and by small ravines and watercourses. There were few walls and no hedges. High jumping was a less valuable activity. It has been practiced by both Greeks and Romans as a training exercise but never became a part of the games (Harris 35). In ancient smelting, the molten ore was poured into a mold. Usually circular, hollowed out in sand. The ingot then formed a carved lower surface corresponding to the bottom of the mold, and a flat top. Many ingots have survived. Most of them are large, but several are in the museum of Caliori. These ingots are roughly the same size as the modern athletic discus (Harris 38). They still say that Greek boxing allowed only blows to the head. No doubt blows to the head were more exciting, but the Greeks knew the exhausting effects of constant attacks to the body. They were even more exhausting. Vase paintings showed boxers using an open hand and a downward blows which suggested they used the side of their hand like a hammer. It was even possible that kicking was allowed (Harris 24). The javelin refrained the closest link with training for war. The thrown javelin remained an important secondary armament of the infantryman. The infantryman carried two with him. He used these before coming to close quarters with the infantrymen's swords and shields. Accuracy was clearly a great importance. The length of the throw was also a great matter. To throw further then the enemy was to be able to hit him before he could hit back. One of the most remarkable differences between ancient and modern athlete was the carelessness of measurements, throws and jumps being recorded. The Greeks had no stopwatches or electrical timing devices. Measurements would have been easy for them. They had standard weights and measures. The best Greek athletes were confident to defeat those who were in immediate competition with them, and did not care what others had done at other times and places. The Greeks were not concerned about breaking records as the modern athletes are ! Training methods that the Greek boxers used were they wore ear guards and used padded gloves for practice. The ear guards were not worn in competition. Another training method used is shadow boxing, which was a favorite method of training in antiquity (Harris 24). Boxing, javelin throwing, discus, the jump, wrestling and pankration are all spectator sports. These sports are filled with prizes and excitement. As today, the rules in the sports have changed but the competition factor stayed the same. Today's athlete has a fairer chance in competition. All Greek athletes oiled themselves before exercising as a hygiene measure to keep dire out of their pores, and at the end of their events they took a bath and scraped off the dust, sweat and oil with a bronze strigil. After the oiling, wrestlers dusted one another with powder before a contest
Some common words found in the essay are:
Greek Roman, Greeks Romans, Roman Greek, , harris 38, harris 35, webster 55, harris 39, throwing discus, ancient roman greek, harris 23, close quarters, harris 22, greek boxers, discus throwers,
Approximate Word count = 2167
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
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