Episkyros

Episkyros was an ancient Greek game played with a ball, kind of like a super old version of rugby or American football! Two teams, with lots of players, would try to throw the ball over the heads of the other team. It was a very active game that needed lots of teamwork. Sometimes, even girls played this game, which was pretty cool for ancient times!

This game was played on a field with special lines. There was a line in the middle, and lines at the back of each team. The teams would pass the ball back and forth, trying to get it past the other team. If a team was pushed all the way back behind their own line, the other team would win! It sounds like it could get pretty wild!

In a place called Sparta, known for being super strong, Episkyros was played during a big festival. They had five teams, each with 14 players! That's a lot of people playing at once. It was said to be a very rough game in Sparta, so these players must have been really tough and brave to play it.

The Romans, who lived after the ancient Greeks, saw how fun Episkyros was. They copied the game and changed it a little bit, calling it 'Harpastum'. The name 'Harpastum' means 'snatched away', because players would try to grab the ball quickly. So, this ancient Greek game helped create a game the Romans loved too!