The Role of Gymnasium and Academy in the Ancient Greek City - Essay Example

The role of Gymnasium and Academy in the Ancient Greek City Name Institution Course Date The role of Gymnasium and Academy in the Ancient Greek City Architectural tradition and design is able to connect different cultures together; this is true for the architectural design of the ancient Greeks (Smith, 1994). Part of the architectural design of ancient Greek City is Gymnasium and academy. The Gymnasium was an ancient Greek architectural building that was used for athletics activities and in time it was used as a place of study and philosophical discussion (Malacrino, 2010). Gymnasium in the ancient Greek city was formed as a public organisation where young men received training and exercises. Gymnasium started as a training institution but over the years, it became a place of more than training. Gymnasium and academy were large structures that had spaces for different types of exercises. They also had different other spaces such as stadium, baths and covered porticos (Wermer, Sabinus and Eponine, 2013). Gymnasium and academy were located outside the city walls as a result of their huge spaces. This essay will offer the role played by Gymnasium and Academy in the ancient Greek city. The earliest gymnasia in ancient Greek date to the 6th century and were just an area made up of shaded trees located near river or spring (Wermer, Sabinus and Eponine, 2013). The gymnasia were a dedicated area where young people went for training and development in preparation for warfare. Also, gymnasia were set aside for aristocracy. Noble men came to demonstrate their superiority both physical and social to the lower class men. Generally, gymnasia were constructed in order to be used by athletes, young men and noble men for the purpose of training and fitness development (Komitudis, 2004). Over the years, the roles of gymnasia have evolved and their functions have increased considerably. The name gymnasium is derived from the Greek work gymnos which mean nudity which started as exercise and sport facility (Christidēs, Arapopoulou and Chritē, 2007). Exercises and training were carried out by young men. The need for gymnasium evolved due to the necessity of space to be used by young men in training and fitness exercising. Gymnasium acted as a venue where young men got ready for warfare. Men going for war used to practice in the gymnasium (Berit and Strandskogen, 2009). The sports that were offered in the gymnasium include wrestling, boxing, gymnastics and running among others. Sports offered in the gymnasium useful for warfare were javelin, use of catapult and archery Christidēs., Arapopoulou, M. & Chritē, M. (2007. In the Hellenistic Period, gymnasium was standardized in function but continued its role in both physical and general education. Athletes in the gymnasia competed nude. This was considered an appreciation for the male body and was a tribute to the gods (Stefanovic and Jakovljevic, 2005). Gymnasia were considered wrestling schools as different people especially young people came together to receive wrestling education (Stefanovic and Jakovljevic, 2005). Wrestling among the young people was very important as it was a way of offering education and discipline. Wrestling prevented idleness among young people which could potentially lead to immoral behaviours such as stealing, fighting and substance abuse (Stefanovic and Jakovljevic, 2005). Therefore, wrestling school in the gymnasia was appreciated by parents and the community at large as it smoothed down the behaviour of the young people (Stefanovic and Jakovljevic, 2005). Gymnasia was not only famous sanctuaries for sporting and exercises, but revolved to function as a place where people of all ages came together to discuss the topic of the day (Stefanovic and Jakovljevic, 2005). For instance, Athens had gymnasia in both Plato and Aristotle where people on their leisure time to discuss important topics. Gymnasia became important intellectual endeavour that surpassed their function as sites for training and exercise (Kennell, 1995). In Classical Athens, gymnasia acted as our modern universities and colleges as people met to listen to lectures and important speeches. During the Hellenistic period of the ancient Greek, gymnasia changed again and resembled our secondary schools but did not lose their physical purpose of training and exercise (Stefanovic, Ioannidis and Kariotu, 2008). In addition, Greek gymnasia became more than training and education grounds. These developments were as a result of the recognition and appreciation of three aspects of life; athletics, education and health (Stefanovic, Ioannidis and Kariotu, 2008). Therefore, gymnasia were connected to education and medicine. Physical training and healthy living were the most important parts of children education. The education of children and young people were conducted in the gymnasium. Endowment with regard to physical pedagogy and morals and ethics were impacted on these children in the academies and gymnasia (Werner, Sabinus and Eponine, 2013). Since gymnasia were considered a favourite sport for the youths, they were regularly visited by teachers and philosophers. Sophists and scholars often held meetings and talks in the gymnasia; therefore these sites became a place sorted after by people interested in less controlled and planned intellectual pursuits (Stefanovic, Ioannidis and Kariotu, 2008). Athens had three important public gymnasia including the Academy, the Cynosarges as well as the Lyceum. Each of the three gymnasia became famous and was known as schools of philosophy (Werner, Sabinus and Eponine, 2013). Gymnastic was an important aspect of education in the ancient Greek. Gymnastic and health were regarded to having an important interrelationship which led to is significance. Gymnastic exercises were regarded beneficial for health of both the young and the old (Werner, Sabinus and Eponine, 2013). The sophists and scholars put great stress on gymnastics which was practised in the gymnasia around the city. These exercises were considered as cures for different diseases and illnesses. Therefore, gymnasia acted as a means by which health and fitness were achieved by people in the ancient Greek city. They play a role in ensuring good health for different people in the city (Werner, Sabinus and Eponine, 2013). In addition, gymnasia were good locations for races and sport events that took place in the ancient Greek (Boys-Stones et al., 2009). During foot races and sports events, people met in the gymnasia to watch and get entertained by sports people. Also, athletes taking part in races and sports championship often trained in the gymnasia. Athletes also trained for Olympic Games and cult competitions in the gymnasia (Boys-Stones et al., 2009). Coaches were the head of training and preparation for competitions. There were also special rooms used by athletes for bath and storage. After the removal of sweat and dust, athletes used special bath tubes to clean themselves after training. Ancient Greek appreciated the aspect of hygiene as an important element of good health (Boys-Stones et al., 2009). Education in the ancient Greek for young children aged 7 to 14 was done in three important fields including literature, physical education as well as music. Schools were divided into grammar schools, gymnastic schools and music schools. Gymnastic schools also known as palaistra were valued in the ancient Greek culture (Kennell, 1995). Gymnastics were considered training science that was part of nutrition regime for children in schools. It was a way that enhanced healthy development of children. Before puberty, children were introduced to gymnastics which enabled them gain physical strength and grow healthy. Gymnasia were therefore considered a sanctuary that gave an opportunity for children to have a healthy growth and development (Werner, Sabinus and Eponine, 2013). According Malacrino (2010), gymnasia was a form of medical art facility. The games that took place in the gymnasia have some influences on the art of healing different diseases. Gymnasia were considered faculties that helped in preserving health of ancient Greek people. Due to this reason, gymnasia in ancient Greek were dedicated to the god of physicians (Boys-Stones et al., 2009). Physicians were part of gymnasia and took part in regulating the diet of youths and taking care of their health. Physicians in gymnasia were responsible for taking care of the health of the wrestles and the young people. In addition, physicians also took part in educating people in gymnasia (Werner, Sabinus and Eponine, 2013). They held meetings and talks about health education and gave advice to people on how to prevent and control spread of diseases. Therefore, gymnasia were sanctuary for the physicians to institute health education among young people. In conclusion, in ancient Greece, gymnasia and academy were very important in preserving the culture of the people. Gymnasia and academies made up an integral part of the architectural design of ancient Greek City. The gymnasia started as training grounds for young people who were preparing for warfare. Gymnasia were among the significant sites on which the ancient Greek culture was instituted. Gymnasia acted as grounds where young people trained and undertook wrestling classes. In addition, there was body development in gymnasia among young children. Besides training and development, gymnasia and academies were sanctuaries for socializing and taking part in intellectual pursuits. They were considered education grounds where scholars and philosophers held meeting to educate people in Greek. In addition, gymnasia acted as grounds for promoting health and fitness. References Berit, A. & Strandskogen, R. (2009). Lifelines in World History:" The Ancient World"," The Medieval World"," The Early Modern World"," The Modern World". Routledge. Boys-Stones, et al, (2009). The Oxford Handbook of Hellenic Studies. Oxford, Oxford University Press. Christidēs., Arapopoulou, M. & Chritē, M. (2007). A history of ancient Greek : from the beginnings to late antiquity. Cambridge, UK New York: Cambridge University Press. Kennell, N. (1995). The gymnasium of virtue : education & culture in ancient Sparta. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. Komitudis, A. (2004). ΗΠΡΟΠΟΝΗΤΙΚΗ ΤΩΝ ΑΡΗΑΙΩΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΩΝ.(Training of Ancient Greeks). Journal of History of Physical Culture, 2(4): pp. 121-132 Malacrino, G. (2010). 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