Public facility for sporting and musical leisure activities in the Greek polis; the term is derived from γυμνός/gymnós (naked) and refers to the nakedness at sports practices and competitions. Synonymous with gymnasium for the period from the 4th cent. BC in ancient written sources as well as in modern specialized literature is the concept of the palaistra (cf. Vitruvius 5,11). This as the ‘Wrestler school’ originally referred only to a funct…
Cite this page
Höcker, Christoph (Kissing) and
Hadot, Pierre (Limours),
“Gymnasium”, in:
Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry.
Consulted online on 02 April 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e500660>