Discos
Diskos (Greek: δίσκος = plate, disk) is the ancient discus throwing , about which Homer already reported in the Iliad and the Odyssey and which was part of the ancient Olympic Games .
In contrast to discus throwing in modern times, the throwing area in ancient times was not circular, but open to the rear. The athletes threw a bronze disc that weighed 5-6 kg instead of the 2 kg that is common today. The diameter of these ancient discs was also a bit larger than today's 22 cm, at approx. 35 cm. There were no standardized discus discs, it was just crucial that the participants in a competition competed against each other under the same conditions.
Throwing an antique, heavy and larger disc is a pure feat of strength. In ancient times, the disc was probably only thrown away with a half turn and with a lot of force. In contrast, today's athletes have sophisticated turning techniques, in which they spin the lighter disc in a one-and-a-half turn and fling it into the distance.
Greek mythology reports that Hermes and Apollo unintentionally fatally struck two spectators at the discos. The two gods made their sacrifices Crocus and Hyakinthos immortal as flowers in order to atone for their guilt. Also Perseus killed his grandfather at a fighting game Akrisios by the throw of a disco.
The Diskophoros according to Polyklet and the Diskobolos of Myron each show a statue of the classical period, which has been handed down in Roman copies with the sports equipment in hand .
literature
- Christian Georg Kohlrausch (1851-1934): The discus. Instructions for the introduction of discus throwing on our gymnastics and playgrounds for all gymnasts, especially for gymnastics teachers and students of higher education institutions, 1882
- Ulrich Sinn: The ancient Olympia - gods, games and art , Munich 2004, ISBN 3406515584
- Kai Brodersen : Philostratos: Sport in antiquity. Wiesbaden: Marix 2015, ISBN 978-3-7374-0961-2