Yes, that’s right – ancient Olympic sportsmen (all men, by the way) ran, wrestled, and fought buck naked. The ancient Greeks had a tradition of doing things nude (they walked around in the buff in the bedroom and at parties called sympsia*, and they exercised without any clothes on) – indeed, the word gymnasium came from the Greek word gymos, which means “naked.”
Why naked? Well, to appreciate and celebrate the male physique, of course, and as a tribute to the gods. Participants regularly anointed themselves with olive oil to enhance their looks … and to keep the skin smooth!
In the sixth century, there was an actually attempt to make athletes wear loincloths, but this proved to be unpopular and soon afterwards nudity regained its status as fashion in athletics.
*Great trivia for the next time you’re in a boring symposium: the original symposium is a nude drinking party (sympotein is Greek for “to drink together”), complete with courtesans (basically sophisticated prostitutes).
One of 10 Fascinating Facts About the Ancient Olympic Games
WIHI?
so “nude” is Greek for gay?
Nude women’s gymnastics or nude women’s figure skating – very good.
Nude men’s wrestling – very very bad
(Would give entirely new meaning to ‘pole vault’.)
I dont go that way,where are the nude babes
Did anyone notice that these guys aren’t nude… they’re
wearing nude ‘pants’ . Notice the fake calf & thigh muscles
and the fake… bits and pieces? Take a closer look, all of
the penises and ball sacks are *identical*!
Could have showed a more “impressive” picture than this. Kind of looks like little dick is all the same.
As I study the olympic games of the ancient times. I look at being nude in sports as a form of strength. Take “wrestling” for instance. It has always been a form of who is better and who is stronger. Wrestling in the nude is just a better way to match up evening. Not worrying about anything being in the way. It is a form of primal instinct.