History of gymnastics

athletic competitions in ancient Greece

ancient Greek training facility

German educator, writer and politician (1778-1852)

German gymnast

Spanish military personnel

The Gymnopaedia was an annual festival celebrated exclusively in ancient Sparta, which helped to define Spartan identity. It featured generations of naked Spartan men participating in war dancing and choral singing, with a large emphasis placed on age and generational groups. It is believed that celebration of this festival began in 668 BCE to honour a Spartan victory in Thyrea. The festival likely evolved over time to celebrate other Spartan victories such as that over the Argives in the Battle of the Champions. The Gymnopaedia was primarily in honour of Apollo, but also celebrated Artemis an

early proponent and directly responsible for introducing physical education in schools of Denmark