Palaestra

The palaestra was the ancient Greek wrestling school. The events that did not require a lot of space, such as boxing and wrestling, were practiced there. The palaestra functioned both independently and as a part of public gymnasia. A palaestra could exist without a gymnasium, but no gymnasium can exist without a palaestra.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The palaestra was a prominent feature in Greek society, the significance of athletic competition - and by extension, physical beauty - translating into the importance of the building itself. The status of the specific event, wrestling, sponsored by the palaestra added to the importance of the building. Wrestling was one of the oldest and most widely distributed sports in the Greek world.

Ancient Greek: Ancient Greek refers to the stage in the history of the Greek language corresponding to Classical Antiquity, which normally applies on two ancient periods of Greek history: Archaic and Classic Greece. The Ancient era of Greek history normally includes also the Hellenistic (post-Classic) age, however...

Boxing: Boxing is a combat sport that entails punching one's opponent. In both amateur and professional versions, the fighters wear padded gloves, attacking only with the front of the fist. In professional boxing each round usually lasts for three minutes and there may be 4-12 rounds in a bout. The winner i...

Wrestling: Wrestling is a form of fighting both playfully and as a combat sport, between two opponents without weapons who grab each other's body and/or clothing (grappling, as opposed to punching, striking, kicking and pinching). (The term in this context is distinct from its figurative use, as in "wrestling ...