Palaestra

=Cities of Vesuvius =

- Syllabus Content -

[[image:Palaestra_Pompeii.jpg width="450" height="313" align="right" caption="Palaestra, Pompeii"]]Palaestra
See: "Developing the Body and Playing Sport" p.139.

Sports area / gymnasium.

=Pompeii=


 * The large palaestra is in Region II, next to the amphitheatre.
 * 141 x 107 metres.
 * Portico on three sides.
 * Shade trees.
 * Surrounding wall.
 * Swimming pool in centre (35 X 22 metres).

There was also a palaestra in the Stabian Baths, and the so-called Samnite Palaestra (VIII. 7. 29). These were smaller and older exercise areas than the large palaestra.
 * [[image:1234_pompei_palestra_medium.jpg width="400" height="262" caption="Amphitheatre from the Palaestra"]] || [[image:1226_pompei_palestra_medium.jpg width="400" height="262" caption="Palaestra"]] ||
 * [[image:1225_pompei_palestra_medium.jpg width="400" height="262" caption="Palaestra"]] || [[image:1223_pompei_west_side_of_palestra_medium.jpg width="400" height="262" caption="Outside wall of the Palaestra"]] ||

= = =Herculaneum=
 * 110 x 70 metres.
 * A cross shaped swimming pool (5.5 metres wide, 1.1 metres deep – length of arms: 50 metres and 30 metres). At the centre was a bronze fountain, a five headed serpent around a tree; each head emitted a jet of water. This pool was probably a decorative feature.
 * Another pool 30 X 5 metres was probably for swimming, though it was not in use at the time of the eruption.
 * The sports area was surrounded by trees.
 * A grand and imposing entrance like the cella of a temple. Deiss: there was probably a statue of Hercules here.
 * A room on the western side has a large apse and a table in front of it. This may have been for the display of prizes.


 * [[image:1839_herculaneum_palestra.jpg caption="The grand entrance of the Palaestra"]] || [[image:1863_herculaneum_palestra.jpg caption="The room with apse on the western side of the Palaestra"]] ||

//Collegia// of young people 11-17 years (//Iuventus Pompeiana// in Pompeii) competed in youth games (//Ludi Iuventus//) //Iuventus Pompeiana// possibly trained in the //Schola Armaturarum// nearby.

Probable activities were running, discus and javelin though there is no evidence of these.