EPISKYROS
EPISKYROS
tended to remain amongst the commoners without truly becoming a professional sport in antiquity. In Ancient Rome, a game called harpastum arised, influenced by episkyros. The Spartans used it as an introductory exercise to military training, and even had annual tournaments. The game taught teamwork and group communication skills which were vital to everyday life in militaristic states such as Sparta. It was a fun and effective way to incorporate moral values into leisure. As one can begin to see,
Winter 2021· Torch: U.S. · ANCIENT GAMES & EXERCISES: EPISKYROS
Another sport that made its debut in Ancient Greece but was not included in professional games such as the Olympics was “episkyros” or “Ἐπίσκυρος.” It originated as a warm-up game for children and women exercising, men preparing for military training, and even Greeks before entering the baths.
Episkyros involves two teams of equal size ranging from 12 - 14 players each on opposite sides of a playing field. In the middle of the field, stone chips would be placed in a line to mark the division which neither side could pass during gametime called the skyros. Additional stone chips were placed in a line behind each team to mark the back boundary of the playing field. Similar to modern-day dodgeball, the playing ball would be placed in the center of the skyros at the commencement of episkyros. Whichever side retrieved the gameball first had the first throw. Teams would alternate throwing the ball back and forth until one team dropped the ball amongst themselves or threw the ball so far it forced the receiving team to cross the back boundary. In both cases, the ball would be turned over to the opposing team, and episkyros would continue. Also, the size of the playing field could be adjusted to fit the number of players. If the back boundary was too easily crossed, it was common to restart the game with an extended playing area.
This sport was extremely popular amongst the Romans and the Greeks, but
Remnant of a marble grave stele showing a young man playing a ball game in a palaestra. Piraeus, c. 400 - 375 BC. Currently in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, Greeece.
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