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The word gymnasium, originally spelled gymnazein, is Greek for place to be naked and derives from the Greek word for naked: gymnos. Historically, such a place was a place for both exercise, as well as bathing, especially social (communal) bathing.
In 1598, the term was adopted from a "place to be naked" to a "place of exercise"
The abbreviation to gym was introduced in 1871.
The Greek term gymnastikos (first re-spelled as gymnast in 1594) now refers to someone skilled in the art of bodily exercise, but no longer necessarily naked.
The gymnasium formed a public institution as distinguished from the palaestra - a private school where boys received training in physical exercises, though the term palaestra also often refers to the part of a gymnasium specially devoted to wrestling and boxing.
The athletic contests for which the gymnasium supplied the means of training and practice formed part of the social life of the Greeks from the earliest times. They took place in honour of heroes and gods; sometimes forming part of a periodic festival, sometimes of the funeral rites of a deceased chief. In the course of time the Greeks grew more attached to such sports; their free active life, spent to a great extent in the open air, fostered the liking almost into a passion. The victor in any athletic contest, though he gained no money prize, was rewarded with the honour and respect of his fellow citizens; and a victory in the great religious festivals was counted an honour for the whole state. In these circumstances the training of competitors for the greater contests became a matter of public concern; and accordingly special buildings were provided by the state, and their management entrusted to public officials. The regulation of the gymnasium at Athens is attributed by Pausanias (i. 39. 3) to Theseus. Solon made several laws on the subject; but according to Galen it was reduced to a system in the time of CleisthenesCleisthenes (also Clisthenes or Kleisthenes was the tyrant of Sicyon, who aided in the war against Cirra that destroyed that city in 595 BC. He organized a competition with his daughter Agarista as a prize; the two main competitors for her were the Alcmae.
Ten gymnasiarchs, one from each tribe, were appointed annually. These performed in rotation the duties of their office, which were to maintain and pay the persons who were training for public contests, to conduct the games at the great Athenian festivalA festival or fest is an event, usually staged by a local community, which centers on some theme, sometimes on some unique aspect of the community. Cherry Days" in Paonia, Colorado is a typical festival. Types of Festivals Arts festival Cultural festivals, to exercise general supervision over the morals of the youths, and to adorn and keep up the gymnasium. This office was one of the ordinary public services, and great expense was entailed on the holders. Under them were ten sophronistae, whose duty was to watch the conduct of the youths at all times, and especially to be present at all their games.
The practical teaching and selecting of the suitable exercises for each youth were in the hands of the paedotribae and gymnastae, the latter of whom also superintended the effect on the constitution of the pupils, and prescribed for them when they were unwell. The aleiptae oiled and rubbed dust on the bodies of the youths, acted as surgeons, and administered the drugThis article is about chemical substances. For other meanings of the word "drug", see Drug (disambiguation A drug is any substance that can be used to treat an illness, relieve a symptom, or modify a chemical process or processes in the body. The word "drs prescribed. According to Galen there was also a teacher of the various games of ball.
The gymnasia built to suit these various purposes were large buildings, which contained not merely places for each kind of exercise, but also a stadiumAthens Olympic Stadium terraces, such as shown here at Sarajevo's Stadium Kosevo. A modern stadium (plural stadiums or stadia is a place, or venue, for outdoor sports, concerts or other events, consisting of a field or stage partly or completely surrounde, baths, covered porticos for practice in bad weather, and outer porticos where the philosophers and men of letters read public lectures and held disputations.
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