Sports and games during ancient times
Sports and games during ancient times
Bidding farewell to the section on Myths, we proceed to our next story, themed “Sports and games during ancient times”. On the left, the introductory text reads: “The need of our ancestors to be fit, to hunt, avoid predators and fight, led to the birth of sports and athletic contests. These games gradually came to occupy a major role in society”.
We are inside a large, bright semi-circular space with representations and excerpts from ancient texts all around on the walls. There are images of sports being depicted on vessels, such as wrestling, and running, as well as scenes from everyday life, with an emphasis on physical exercise. There is also extensive reference to the venues where training and games took place, i.e., the stadiums, palestras and gymnasia.
Our visit to ancient Greece is concluded with a special reference to the four Panhellenic Games: the Isthmian, the Pythian, the Nemean and the Panathenaic Games. Opposite the entrance of the hall, there is a tactile representation of the torch relay, which you can explore by touch and listen to its description by pulling the tablet to a horizontal position. Lastly, in the middle of the room, behind a showcase lies a replica of a Panathenaic black-figured amphora with a lid. It is a winner’s prize at the Panathenaic Games, dating to 363/2 BCE and is part of the National Archaeological Museum’s collection.
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