Physical Education in Greece.

Physical Education experienced a ´´golden age´´ in the

ancient Greece. The Greeks believed so much in physical
education and this affected all phases of their lives. It
played major role in the National festivals and helped in
building strong military establishments. The Greeks are
well known in history for their love of sports and
particularly for the creation of the Olympic Games which
began in ancient Greece in 776 B.C. and heid every four
years until they were abolished in 394 A.D. By the Roman
Emperior Theodosius.
The education of the child was the responsibilityof the
state. Only the healthy and strong children were preserved.
The weak and sickly were ruthlessly exposed to die by the
side of the mountains .
Gymnastics and music played an important role in the
upbringing of the youth.They believed that music for the
spirit and gymnastics for the body. Activities such as
Dancing, Running, Jumping, throwing the Discuss and
Javelin were included in the programme.
The sole duty of the Spartan citizen was to serve the
state as a soldier, other duties were carried out by
the other city states.
The major purpose of Spartan physical education
was nto prepare ´´the man of action´´who
possessed rugged strenght, endurance,courage and
military skills.
The education of the child in Sparta was the
responsibility of the state. The mother took care of
the child until the age of Seven,thereafter the child
would be sent to a military school for training. Unfit
and handicapped children were neglected to die in a
cold mountain valley(Mount Thageasus).
In the military school, they study a variety of physical
activitiessuch as wrestling, jumping, throwing,
marching, horse riding and military training.
The Athenians made huge contributions towards
civilization. They contributed to the development of
modern medicine, science and physical education.
They believed that man should be educated
physically and mentally.
They builts palaestras (stadium) for the physical
education called Gymnastics. Each Palaestra was
looked after by a demonstrator called
´´Paidotribe´´ and an instructor called
´´Gymnast´´.
These gymnasia in ancient Greece were the physical,
social and intellectual training centres. In the
gymnasia youths between the ages of 14 and 16
years received special training in horse riding,
hunting and foot-racing.
There are many local festivals but four national
festivals called PAN-HELLENIC Games are;
1. Nemean Games.
The game was established about 576 B.C. in honour
of Nemean zeus.
2. Pythian Games.
These games were established in 582 B.C. In honour
of Pythian Apollo, the god of prophesy and
truth. The pythian games were held in Delphi
every four years. Wreaths of Laurel were given to
the athletes at the Pythian Games.
3. Isthmean Games.
The game was established about 586 B.C. In honour
of the god Poseidon- the god of the sea.
4. Ancient Olympic Games. (776 BC)
The ancient Olympic games began at Olympia, in
Greecein 776 BC . The event was held every four
years from 776 BC to 394 AD in honour of ´´Zeus´
the king of Greeks gods. The games were held at the
Olympia, in Elis, in the western wooden valley.
The concept of the Olympic Games is that athletes
compete for honour not for material things. The
games were held as part of religious ceremonies in
honour of dead heroes.
The ancient Olympic Games served as bond between
Greeks and promoted thr Greeks sense of national
unity. However the games were abolished by the
Roman Emperior Theodosius because of pegan
practices.
Highlight five contributions of the
Greeks to modern physical
education.