DSBcB030 History and Reenactment of Ancient Sport and Warfare

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2019
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Bc. Jiří Kouřil, M.Sc., Ph.D. et Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jakub Benech (assistant)
Mgr. David Hons (assistant)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. et Mgr. Markéta Melounová, Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 10. 4. 16:00–19:40 A21
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
DSBcB030/01: Thu 11. 4. 11:00–12:40 ?, Tue 16. 4. 13:00–14:40 ?, Thu 18. 4. 11:00–12:40 ?, Tue 23. 4. 13:00–14:40 ?, Wed 24. 4. 9:20–11:00 ?, Thu 2. 5. 9:20–11:00 ?, J. Benech, D. Hons, J. Kouřil
DSBcB030/02: Thu 11. 4. 12:45–14:25 ?, Tue 16. 4. 14:45–16:25 ?, Thu 18. 4. 12:45–14:25 ?, Tue 23. 4. 14:45–16:25 ?, Wed 24. 4. 11:05–12:45 ?, Thu 2. 5. 11:05–12:45 ?, J. Benech, D. Hons, J. Kouřil
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of the history of the ancient world.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course is a re-enactment of the ancient "sport" through special tools used in antiquity; the course is focused on theory and practice. There will not be needed any performance or level of fitness. The course will take place outside the classroom, the students will learn basic information about the disciplines of ancient sport and warfare, if they wish, they will also be able to test these disciplines. After a brief introduction and announcement of information about the weapons and other materials for a specific discipline and techniques of their use, historical developments (eg. boxing gloves) etc. there will be a practical demonstration of the use of these tools. Then they will have the opportunity to try it or try the technique or the performance itself. Generally, it will not about achieving maximum performance, but the volunteers will have space to do this and then to compare their performances with performances of ancient Greeks and Romans or to compare them with current performances or the current sporting discipline (eg. long jump with halteres, javelin with loop etc.); the volunteers will be able to join in special research with their performances.
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- understand the selected disciplines of ancient "sport" and the ancient warfare,
- understand the rules of ancient disciplines and games,
- understand some specialist terms,
- make a long jump with halters, to throw a javelin with a loop, to make an ancient discs turn and tie up boxer's soft leather gloves, to play ancient ball games, kabaddi games and to compete in glima games, to run correctly with a shield etc.,
- better understand the ancient "sport", games and exercises,
- work properly with the dory, sarissa and the Greek short sword, to know the advantages and disadvantages of these weapons and combat techniques,
- orientate in the primary sources and specialist literature dealing with this topic.
Syllabus
  • Introduction to the ancient "sport" and disciplines.
  • Running, especially the race in armour with a shield, a helmet and a shinguards.
  • Long jump with weights.
  • Javelin with a loop.
  • Discus Throw.
  • Pentathlon.
  • Boxing.
  • Wrestling and pankration.
  • Ancient ball games.
  • Archery.
  • Tlachtli (pok-a-tok), kabaddi, glima ...
  • Battle techniques with dory and xiphos, sarissa, ...
Literature
    required literature
  • ARRIANOS, Flavios. Alexander the Great : the Anabasis and the Indica. Edited by John A. Atkinson, Translated by Martin Hammond. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013, xlv, 372. ISBN 9780199587247. info
  • HOMÉROS. Ílias. Translated by Otmar Vaňorný. Vyd. 10. Praha: Rezek, 1996, 177 s. ISBN 80-86027-05-8. info
  • PAUSANIAS. Cesta po Řecku. Vyd. 1. Praha: Svoboda, 1973, 581 s. URL info
  • PAUSANIAS. Cesta po Řecku. 1. vyd. Praha: Svoboda, 1974, 428 s. URL info
  • XENOFÓN. Anabaze. Translated by Jaroslav Šonka. Praha: Odeon, 1974, 266 s. URL info
  • XENOFÓN, nar. 430-425 př. Kr. Lakedaimonské zřízení (Obsaž.) : Řecké dějiny. info
  • XENOFÓN. O Kýrově vychování. Translated by Václav Bahník. Vyd. 1. Praha: Svoboda, 1970, 342 s. URL info
  • New perspectives on ancient warfare. Edited by Garrett G. Fagan - Matthew Trundle. Boston: Brill, 2010, xiii, 372. ISBN 9004185984. info
    recommended literature
  • HOMÉROS. Odysseia. Translated by Otmar Vaňorný - Ferdinand Stiebitz, Illustrated by Karel Vodák. V SNKLHU vyd. 1. Praha: Státní nakladatelství krásné literatury, hudby a umění, 1956, 479 s. info
  • Ancient warfare. Edited by Harry Sidebottom. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004, 165 p. ISBN 0192804707. info
  • OLIVOVÁ, Věra. Sport a hry ve starověkém světě. V Praze: Artia, 1988, 207 stran. URL info
    not specified
  • DUPUY, R. Ernest and Trevor N. DUPUY. Historie vojenství. 1. vyd. Praha: Forma, 1997, 1635 s. ISBN 80-7213-008-0. info
  • Historie vojenství : Harperova encyklopedie Historie vojenství., Od roku 1700 do války v Perském zálivu : Harperova encyklopedie Historie vojenství., Od roku 3500 př. Kr. do roku 1700. info
  • SÁBL, Václav. Hrdinové antických olympiád. První vydání. Praha: Olympia, 1968, 398 stran. info
  • SÁBL, Václav. Od Olympie k Římu 1960 : z dějin olympijských her. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sportovní a turistické nakladatelství, 1960, 351 s. URL info
  • ŠÚTORA, Pavel. Vojenství doby bronzové. 1997, 180, [13] info
  • Warhorsecavalry in ancient warfare. Edited by Philip Sidnell. New York: Hambledon Continuum, 2006, xi, 363 p. ISBN 9780826421050. info
Teaching methods
Lecture, discussion, practical exercise.
The subject will be taught in several blocks and seminar groups.
Students will be informed about the location of each block.
Multiple enrollment is possible.
Assessment methods
Verification of the student's knowledge what javelin with loop was, long jump with the halteres, what a part of the race in armour was, battle techniques, how the various tools were used in the antiquity. The volunteers will also be able to complete the course by a demonstration or performance in the specific disciplines (this will not be emphasized in general).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2019, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2019/DSBcB030