The Timeless Value of Games in Ancient Greece

International Conference

Living Values in Education

MSc - Maria Kiliafi MSc . MSc- Teacher of Physical Education

MSc

markiliafi@yahoo.gr

http://livingvalueszante.weebly.com/programme.html

http://livingvalueszante.weebly.com/programme.html

- Abstract

Plato Game Citizens of Tomorrow

: Because:

& Freedom of Will & Choice

Critical Thought

The Game Leaders Acceptance

Teamwork

The Exchange of roles

Trust towards his playmates

- Abstract

-

.

EVOLUTION

Game for games sake Entertainment

Rivalry games Sports

Educational games Games promoted spiritual development

AIM

,

.

:

) ,

) .

The main aim of this literature review is to refer to the Timeless Value

of Games i.e. games played separately by boys and girls, as well as those

which were common for both sexes in Ancient Greece. The review also

includes a classification of those games according to:

a) Their features,

b) Their aims.

- Introduction

Help mould childrens character

Plato

Games Prepare for a better Life

Poplin Poplin - Alkiviades

-- Play-Child-Game (greek terms

derive from the same root)

Introduction

-

Adolescence Athletic Games

Physical Exercise Rivalry Games Fair Play

4000 ..

Timeless Value of Games 4000 B.C. - Today

= ( )

Chess=Polis (use of pawns)

= ( )

Checkers (use of cubes, i.e. dices)

Universal Games

Universal Games

Doll (Plagona)

() Ball Games

Board Games

Swing

Push and Pull wagon

Tree Climbing

Stick Riding

MAIN PART

, : ) , ) (), ) ()

(Lafaye, , , Caillois)

()

: .

Palamides inventor of games, according to Pausanias, he invented:

a) the weights and measures, b) pawns (pessi), c) the cubes (dices).

CLACCIFICATION OF GAMES (Lafaye, Kakrides, Gougouli, Caillois)

According to the populace

According to their cultural specificity (Lazos)

Most of the games had a basic feature: Entertainment.

1-4 years old! Common

Games for Boys & Girls

- Games

1 4 : .

5 : .

: .

: .

Gynaeceum (room reserved for women) 1 4 years

old children: common games for boys and girls.

Children over 5 years old: diferentiation of games.

! Games might be common for both sexes.

But: Boys and girls could not play together.

GAMES for BOYS

: , .

: , .

: ,

Tug of War

Variations: Elkistinda, Skaperda.

Features: Combativeness, Dynamism.

Aim: Effort towards Victory, development of vigour.

GAMES for GIRLS-DOLLS

(PLAGONAS)

GAMES for GIRLS -

: , .

: ,

: ( ...)

Doll (Plagona) - Religious Idol: Ritual passport to Adulthood, Death.

Doll (Toy) Featurs: Entertainment, Pupettry played among girls.

Theatrical performances of Adults.

Aim: Imitation of Adult life (Housekeeping etc.)

Captivity Games

: , .

: , &

.

: .

Blindfolded games (Chalki Miia or Miinda)

Variations: Drapetinda, Psilaphinda.

Features: Entertainment, Losers are captured & freed at the

end of the game.

Aim: stimulation of the senses.

- Platanistas

: .

: .

,

()

Features:Violent Captivity game.

Aim: Military exercise of teenagers.

Place: Ancient Sparta, on a small island in Eurotas (river)

covered all over with plane trees (platania), (Pausanias).

Strategy Games or Board Games

Strategy Games or Board Games

: , ()

: ,

: , , .

Pawn Games

Features: Entertainment, Spiritual games using pawns.

Cube games

Features: Entertainment, Lucky games, using cubes (dices) or

knucklebones.

Aim:Freedom of will & choice, Insight, Critical thought.

Strategy Games or Board Games

--

.

.

4000 . - 72 =

= .

Such games might be found in developed political-economical

-military societies.

Mirror of the spiritual level of each society.

Minoan Crete, 4000 BC. Evans Abacus with 72 daisies=Polis

= Chess.

( )

Ball Games - Keritizin

( )

Ball Games

: , , ,

, ( Hockey).

: , , ,

, .

Keritizin

Features: No Entertainment, Violence, team game that was played with

curved sticks (like Hockey).

Aim: Teamwork, The Game Leaders Acceptance, Trust towards ones

playmates, Effort towards Victory.

( ) 2

Ball Games 2 - Episkyros

( ) 2

Ball Games 2 ( )

: , , ,

() , ( Rugby).

: , ,

, .

Episkyros or Teenegers ball games.

Features: No Entertainment, Violence, Team game, ball field lines were

drawn with a stone named Skyron, like Rugby.

Aim: Teamwork, The Game Leaders Acceptance, Trust towards ones

playmates, Effort towards Victory.

Conclusion

,

, , .

: .

.

The structure of the games, either for entertainment or educational goals,

portrays the political, cultural and social organization of each society.

Ancient Greeks: Games of their own invention Respect towards children

needs.

Lack of fear for the foreign.

Greek Bibliography

1., ., 1991,

,

, .

2., ., 2002, ,

, .

3., . ., 1987, ,

, .

Foreign Bibliography

4.Caillois, Roger, Les Jeux et les hommes,

Gallimard, 1958.

5.Hett, W., The games of the Greek Boy.

6.Lafaye, G., Ludi, D/S, IV, 1356.

7.May, Roland, Les jeux de table dans l

antiquite D.A. 18 33.

8.Poplin, Francois, Les jeux d osselets

antiques, D.A., 47.

!! Thank you!!

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