GYMNASTICS, History of. The development
of gymnastics began in an early period
of Grecian and Roman history. Systematic
exercise received the stamp of approbation
from the most eminent educators of ancient
times and has the endorsement of all teachers
to-day. Such exercise has had its periods of
decline in popularity, due to the development of
professionalism, stimulated by the conferring of
extravagant honors and rewards which caused
the ranks of the athletes to be filled by a
professional class of low extraction, who made
their art a trade. But through these periods
of decline there have been those who have kept
in mind the true value and aim of regularly
and systematically conducted exercises; and
these advocates have outlived and lived down
these evils. So that we find that the scientifically
conducted gymnastics have never entirely
lost their hold upon educators and those interested
in the betterment of mankind.
Modern gymnastics differ considerably from
the exercises of the ancients, which at first
consisted of athletic feats performed by each
individual according to his own notion, and were
encouraged among the youth as combining
amusement with exercise. They were at length
reduced to a system which, in Greece, formed a
prominent feature in the state regulations for
education. In fact the period for gymnastics
was equal to the time spent on art and music
combined. Public games were consecrated to
the gods and were conducted with the greatest
ceremony. The earliest mention we can find of
gymnastic sports is in Homer's ‘Iliad,’ Book
II, and again in Book XXIII, when Achilles
instituted games in honor of Patroclus and
distributed prizes to the victors for boxing and
wrestling. Plato tells us that just before the
time of Hippocrates gymnastics were made a
part of medical study, because they were suited
to counteract the effects of indolence and
luxurious feeding, and that at length they became a
state matter reduced to a system and superintended
by state officers. The first public gymnasia
were built by the Lacedæmonians. These
were imitated at Athens, where, in one called
the Academy, Plato instructed his pupils, and
in another, the Lyceum, Aristotle taught. These
were imitated at Athens, where, in one called
the Academy, Plato instructed his pupils, and
in another, the Lyceum, Aristotle taught. These
buildings were superintended by a chief officer. The athletics were in charge of a director, and medical officers were in attendance to prescribe the kind and extent of exercise. Baths were attached to the gymnasia, and a hot bath, followed by a cold plunge, was recommended. Plato and Aristotle considered that no republic could be deemed perfect in which gymnasia; as part of the national establishment, were neglected.
The Spartans were the most rigid in exacting
for their youth a gymnastic training; even
the girls were expected to be good gymnasts. The exercises for pupils in the gymnasia consisted of a sort of tumbling, war-dances, running — for both sexes — leaping, climbing ropes; of jumping or springing from the knees, with weights attached to the body, maintaining the equilibrium while jumping on slippery skins filled with wine; and of wrestling for the throw. Riding, driving, swimming, rowing and swinging supplemented the indoor work.
During the Middle Ages the knightly amusement
of the tournament absorbed nearly every
other sport except foot-racing and wrestling, so
that gymnastics fell into disuse till Basedow
(q.v.) in 1776, at his institution in Dessau,