GYMNASTICS

Under this name were comprised *iy the ancients all those games and exercises which were performed with the body partly naked (yvuvis); such as wrestling, boxing, running, throwing the quoit, playing at ball, . They were first instituted at Laceda?mon, where they were not confined to men, but were also considered a nece ary part of the education of females. In the rest of Greece, where they subsequently spread, they were also held of the highest importance, and as such were conducted under:he superintendence of the government, and entered conspicuously into the political schemes of the philosophers. In thi. respect the Greeks offered a remarkable contrast to th'.li Asiatic neighbours, among whom it was considered a great disgrace even for a man to be seen naked. At Rome gym nasties were principally exercised by the mercenary athletes. GYMNODONTS, Oymnadontes. (Yunanca köken — orijinale bakınız.) The name of the family of Plectognathic fishes, comprehending those which have the jaws protruding, and covered with a more or le complex layer of dense ivorv substance serving the office of teeth. [s. 554]