Hello again! In my absence I have been having all sorts of fun, along with some studying. Lucky for you, I have also researching all about the pentathlon. It is same concept as a triathlon. It is a series of five sports (hence the prefix penta. Latin for five) that are competed in as one event. Athlon is Latin for competition. So pentathlon means five competitions. The sports that the athletes competed in, in this order, long jump, javelin throw, and then discus throw, followed by the stadion, which is a short foot race, and then wrestling. The pentathlon was planned to be a military related event. All of the sports that were part of the pentathlon were thought to be useful for military skills. Long jump would help agility, javelin throw would help throwing spears, and discus throw would help solderers use a sling. The stadion would help speed, and wrestling would be helpful when engaged in hand to hand combat. The first three events were held in a single afternoon. The other two sports were held the next morning. Aristotle once said "Beauty varies with each age. In a young man, it consists in possessing a body capable of enduring all efforts, either of the racecourse or of bodily strength, while he himself is pleasant to look upon and a sheer delight. This is why the athletes in the pentathlon are most beautiful, because they are naturally adapted for bodily exertion and for swiftness of foot."-Aristotle, Rhetoric 1361b. I guess Aristotle was a big fan of pentathletes. But couldn't he have just said, beauty varies upon age. A young mans most beautiful form is a pentathlete. He didn't really have to say that in a fancy perplexing way. It took me a couple tries to understand it, so don't get to frustrated if you don't get it on your first try. Check back in a week or so to learn more about the pentathlon. Until next time, farewell readers. |
This picture really captures the pentathlon. Because from left to right is a long jumper holding weights to help him jump farther, a javelin thrower with a sling wrapped around the shaft, a discus thrower, and another javelin thrower.
If you want to read more, click here:
Ancient Greek Pentathlon, Wikipedia
Britannica
If you want to read more, click here:
Ancient Greek Pentathlon, Wikipedia
Britannica