Roman and Greek Games

In ancient Greece and Rome ball games were used for training athletes and the military, as well as just for exercise. Players practiced on a field called a sfairodromion, later known as a palaistra or palaestra, or in a room known as a sfairisterion. There were also ball courts called spaerista.

Episkyros was one such game played by the Greeks. Many of its characteristics are similar to football including the twelve player team. Another Greek ball came believed to be a forerunner to football is Harpaston. It is a game that is mentioned frequently in classical literature as being a very rough, brutal game. Points were given when a player crossed a goal line. They could kick the ball across the goal line, run it across, or throw it across to another player. The other team was allowed to try and stop them by any means possible. Besides these rules, there were no other rules. There were also no side boundaries or a specific number of players on a team.

The first balls were made from linen, or hair spun into string. The material that was used was wrapped into a spherical shape and sewn together. Later, balls were often made of inflated pig bladders that were wrapped tightly in either pigskin or deerskin.

The Romans took the Greek games of Espiskyros and Harpaston and combined them with the added element of kicking to create the game called Harpastum. They played the game with a small ball which, it is believed, was not supposed to touch the ground. The game was played on a playing field about the size of a football field with a line drawn across the center. The team with the ball would try to keep it on their side of the line, while the opposing team would attempt to steal the ball and take it to their side of the line. Harpastrum was passed on to Britain when the Romans invaded, and is thought to have evolved into the modern day football and rugby of today.

Trigon was another ball game played by the Romans. Three players would stand at the corners of a triangle. A hard ball called a trigon would be thrown from player to player. The object of the game was to throw the ball to another player so that he either could, or could not, catch it. The rules have never been completely interpreted.

Expulsim ludere, or handball, was very popular with the Romans. Handball courts, or sphaerista, were one-walled, and available at baths and in private villas. Children were believed to have played handball in the streets, as almost any wall could be used. The ball that was used was larger than today’s ball but it is believed the rules of play were similar.

Other ball games that have been depicted in both Ancient Greece and Rome include field hockey and soccer. Both are still played today.

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