|
|
Gymnastics Ancient History
Ancient History of Gymnastics
There is little to no direct knowledge available about the earliest
times of man's gymnastics activities. There is no doubt among historians
that people performed gymnastics and gymnastics-related activities like
tumbling, jumping, swinging movements and group acrobatics early in the
history of mankind in a number of areas around the world.
The History of Sport, Exercise and Physical Fitness
Gymnastics is one of the world's oldest physical activities and
sports and its roots can be traced back thousands of years. There
is evidence of early forms of gymnastics in the ancient civilizations in
the Middle East and Asia. Gymnastics, in the form of acrobatics, calisthenics,
precision drills and disciplined exercise has been around since ancient
times.
7000 Years and Counting
Gymnastics was most likely first depicted in Egyptians artifacts.
The earliest known physical evidence of gymnastics can be found in the
art of ancient Egypt, where female acrobats performed for the Pharoahs
and the Egyptian nobility. Acrobats entertained Egyptian nobility
around 7,000 years ago judging by ancient frescoes. Many of these drawings
have been dated and authenticated as far back as 5000 BC. These Egyptian
hieroglyphs depict such gymnastics activities as backbend variations and
partner stunts.
No Bull Vaulting
Beginning about 2,700 BC, acrobats would vault over the backs of
bulls on the island of Crete when the Minoan civilization flourished.
This is recorded in a well-known fresco from Crete at the palace at Knossos.
It depicts a vaulter performing what is either a cartwheel or handspring
over a charging bull.
No Warm-Ups and No Practice Vaults
The art of bull leaping as developed in Minoan Crete was performed
by both men and women. The athlete would run toward a charging bull, grab
its horns, and when tossed into the air, would execute various aerial movements,
landing on the bull's back, and dismount and land on his or her feet on
the other side of the bull. This early gymnastics-related event required
both and strength, courage, grace and style. Without really knowing,
we could predict that this version of the sport had a very high injury
and mortality rate.
The Spread of the Sport
By 800 BC, Greece, China, Persia and India were using gymnastics
for military training. Gymnastics as practiced from early times appears
to have spread from Egypt to Greece and Rome.
Continued Next
Page
GymnasticsZone.com
321 West 13th Street
Suite 4
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
(480) 264-1885
webmaster@GymnasticsZone.com
|
|
Copyright © GymnasticsZone,
Inc. 2003
|
|
|
