GYMNASTICS. 
Galen classed the discus in the medicinal 
gymnastics, in hurling which he was de- 
clared the victor who sent it highest, in the 
air, the greatest distance, and 1116 nearest 
to the mark. Circular quoits, resembling a 
broad ring, and made of iron, are still used 
in England, but it is extremely' doubt- 
ful whether the most experienced player 
could rival the inferior discoboli of ancient 
times. 
Wrestling vvas the only exercise of those 
already mentioned, which could be said to 
be improper or dangerous. Tertirtlian re- 
probated it, and Galen suffered a dislocation 
of his shoulder when wrestling, which satis- 
factorily accounts for his enmity to the 
sport. It is rather singular that this method 
of trying muscular strength should have pre- 
vailed, \vhen it is remembered that strains of 
the muscles and dislocation of the joints, 
and even fractured limbs and skulls, were 
consequences not improbable; in addition 
to these objections it must be allowed 
that no method more certain could be 
devised for the excitement of sudden 
anger and blows. To obviate the first of 
these disadvantages, the Grecian athletes 
anointed their bodies with oil, hoping by 
this means to render their joints more, 
flexible, though some authors have supposed 
the practice originated from an intention to 
prevent their adversaries obtaining a firm 
grasp of the limbs, and others think it was 
done to check profuse and debilitating per- 
spirations. The mode adopted to save the 
limbs from fractures was absurd indeed, 
they lived well and contrived every possible 
way to make themselves corpulent, that 
their flesh might act between their bones 
and the earth, as a medium or cushion, for- 
getting, that as their gravity increased, the 
bruises they received w'eie proportionally 
more violent, and a fracture more difficult 
to reduce. 
Besides the application of oil, and rub- 
bing it on the surface of the skin till the 
friction produced a glow ; it is said they 
added dust or sand, but for what purpose, 
unless to close the pores, cannot well be 
decided. Salzmann says, “ after this pre- 
paration the exercise itself commenced. 
The combatants began with handling each 
other slightly, each pressing or pulling his 
antagonist backwards and forwards, till 
they grew warm, then butting him with his 
head, thrusting him from his ground, assail- 
ing him with all his force, wrenching his 
limbs, shaking him, twisting his neck so as 
VOL. III. 
to choke him, lifting him up in his arms, &c. 
This kind of wrestling was called oftia na>n, 
because it was performed standing : and he 
was declared victor who threw his antago- 
nist thrice. Another kind was performed 
on the ground. This was called avaxxivonaxti. 
Every thing was practised in this, that was 
in wrestling erect, as far as. the posture 
would allow. The combatants voluntarily 
lay down, and he whose strength was first 
exhausted lost the victory, which he ac- 
knowledged by words, or by holding up one 
of his fingers. 
“ With wrestling, the athletes afterwards 
united the savage practice of boxing, which 
was known before the Trojan war. Hence 
arose the two-fold contest called wayxoaTtov, 
which was pursued to excess by the 
athletes, but could scarcely be considered 
as a part of medicinal gymnastics in the 
schools. No ancient physician recommends 
boxing in a medical view. The boxers 
likewise laid great stress on rendering their 
bodies corpulent, that they might be the 
better able lo bear - the blows of their an- 
tagonists.” The same author adds, “The 
boxers fought erect, never hugging their 
antagonist, and throwing him down, but 
merely striking him : the wrestlers were 
not allowed to strike : the pancratiasts 
united the two, both wrestling and strik- 
ing.’’ 
Rennet refers the Ludus Trojas, celebrat- 
ed by bands of boys, to the invention of 
Ascanius. The youths engaged in this ex- 
ercise were selected from the most honour- 
able families of Rome, were elegantly habit- 
ed, and armed with weapons of a size pro- 
portioned to their age. The commander 
received the title of Princeps Juventutis, 
and was sometimes the son of a senator, 
and not unfrequently the heir to the em- 
pire. Augustus was extremely partial to 
their infantile, imitations of the ardour of 
manhood; and Virgil, aware of his par- 
tiality, introduced a description of their 
celebrations in his Eneid. They wore 
chaplets of flowers on their heads, and 
their hair flowed loose from beneath it; 
their vests were purple; and twists of gold, 
disposed in circles, attached to the neck, 
spread down their breasts; quivers hung 
on their shoulders ; they carried two spears; 
and were mounted on spirited horses. Vir- 
gil, in the passage alluded to, divides the 
youths into three troops, each consisting of 
twelve, under the command of a captain, 
amounting in the aggregate to thirty-nine 
Ee 
