is for Ancient Games

There were many games, sports, and recreation in the ancient world. They not only provided fun and entertainment, but impacted the society/GRAPES as well.

is for Boxing

Boxing was a recreational sport of ancient Greece. The poor, commoners, and the rich all played this sport both in the enjoyable and competitive sense. It was very universal, as it could be played practically anywhere with nothing but hands.

is for Chuiwan

Chuiwan is an ancient Chinese game, similar to the modern game of golf. It involves a stick, ball, and a hole. It was played by all social classes, and was a fun way to exercise as well as lift spirits in times of hardship such as war.

is for Discus

Discus was an ancient Greek sport. It was part of the Olympics, and the point was to basically throw as far as possible. It brought the strongest men together in friendly and competitive competition.

is for Events

Sporting events, such as the Olympics, had lots of meaning to it. One was the obvious exercising aspect. However, many games and sports had GRAPES incorporated into it. For instance, the Olympics, held every four years, had an essential meaning of sacrificing and providing entertainment to the gods.

is for Fishing

Fishing was a big pastime of practically every civilization. It could be done in rivers, which many of the civilizations had as a resource. It could also be done in rivers, for those areas that did not have access to freshwater-- like Greece. It provided a source of food and an enjoyable use of spare time.

is for Gladiators

In the Roman Republic and Roman Empire, the gladiators brawling with animals and other humans in places like the Colosseum would draw a lot of attention and audiences. The gladiators themselves were most often slaves or captured ones from other areas.

is for Hunting

Hunting, similar to fishing, was a pretty universal entertainment for people in the ancient times. It could be done in the woods, or anywhere else which had access of resources in terms of hunting. Many things could be hunted, such as small game, or big animals, although it essentially depended on the area of the hunter.

is for Impromptu Swimming

As shown in its name, impromptu swimming is basically people swimming without any equipment, wherever they are(as long as there's water. Swimming is one of those recreational activities that do not require much equipment or time. Adding on to this, since there were lots of water near ancient civilizations, it was quite realistic and easy to do.

is for Javelin

Javelin was also a part of the Greek Olympics. It was played mostly in areas like Rome and Greece. It was basically throwing a long stick as far as possible. In Greece, it was primarily used for things like war and hunting, but became an important part to the Greek athletic culture.

is for Kites

In ancient China, kites were a fun recreational activity for younger and older ones. It was similar to the kites of today, but some held important meaning to the culture, such as dragon kites--representing power, strength, and good luck. In the early times, it was used by the military for messages, but grew to become popular.

is for Leisure

Sports to some can be intense and relatively hard than others. Although modern society has shaped sports to be mainly of the competitive view, in ancient times, it was mainly leaned towards the leisurely aspect. Even during competitive events and gatherings, the main focus was not on winning, but in having fun. It was a way to get rid of the stress and complexity of everyday life, not a way to add on to it.

is for Marathon

Pheidippides was an ancient Greek messenger who inspired the marathon event. He ran from Marathon all the way to Athens, just to deliver news of the victory that they had won over the Persians. He ran a total of about 26 miles! This inspired the running event, named cleverly after the city where the battle had happened.

is for Never (Give Up)

Sports and recreation was a way to relax and have fun with others. However, it taught some important lessons as well, one being to never give up. When people were losing in a game, they would eventually learn to keep trying until the game was over. Recreational activities impacted people's daily lives for the better in this way.

is for Olympics

The Olympics was, and still is a sports competition. Back then, it was always held in Greece, where many people joined to compete in sports. These sports included boxing, chariot racing, discus, running, and so much more (look in this book for some of these). It was a public gathering, an opportunity to celebrate talents in the physical/sport sense.

is for Pankration

Pankration was a combination of wrestling and boxing (both mentioned in this book). It was a vicious sport with barely ANY limitations, leading to the point where only the biggest and healthiest men entered this event. Simply put, it was a wild fistfight with no biting, and no gouging. Even so, it was shaped into a cultural influence, and many enjoyed playing/watching this sport.