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Elite Recreation
| During the second century, recreation was an important aspect
of Roman athletics, especially for the elite. The view of athletics
for practical purposes was transformed into a view of athletics
as personal fitness and recreation. Rather than training for military
purposes, members of the Roman World would exercise to compete in
competitions. This was the result of many games and other forms
of entertainment, such as the public spectacles, taking over the
Roman culture. The Roman World became obsessed with such competitions
and events, and an economic and military decline ensued. Tacitus,
the author of the Annals, addressed the situation in Rome in
109 A.D., stating that Rome had become infiltrated with the ways
of the Greeks, and many Roman citizens would rather train to compete
in a boxing match than to prepare for war. This practice was supported,
if not encouraged by several of the emperors for political reasons,
who ignored serious problems to focus on keeping such entertainments
alive. |
Remains of harbor gymnasium at Ephesus
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| Because of the role of athletics as recreation and personal fitness,
many of the elite in the Roman World would gather in the gymnasia
to exercise. The gymnasiums were used to train for competitions
as well as to promote the ancient Greek idea that a healthy body
is necessary for a healthy mind. |
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