Ancient Cultural Ties of Strength Training

Only soldiers and athletes were permitted to train

Purposes of Strength Training:

1. Religion
2. Warfare [soldiers]
3. Personal health
4. Social Customs ↓

Strength was viewed as societal importance

They displayed their strength through lifting heavy stones and cauldron shaped "Ding" which weighted up to 700 lbs. and had much cultural importance because they were used in ancestral worship rituals.

Today, stone lifting is still used in strongman competitions as a way to present strength.

Participated by (Similar to China)

• local soldiers
• athletes
• men and women
• those who wanted to improve health.

Tomb drawings suggested that strength training held great value and was popular.

Egypt nationalist claim that strength training started mainly in Egypt and then spread to other countries, such as Rome and Greece.

Presented the sack and swing which was commonly used for training and can now be translated to the clean and jerk.

Forms of exercising was of great value in Greek city-states

Cultural Aspects:

• Fathers would force their young boys (ages 6 and 7) into training in hopes of becoming the greatest soldiers
• Olympics was of high standards, so many men training for several months out of the year in hopes of gold medals

The Greek philosopher, Socrates, connected a strong and muscular body to the protection of home.

The importance of strong soldiers can be seen with the Greek myth of Hercules

Due to serious training for the Olympics, they created a designated building for training. These soon lead to the creation of what is known today as Gymnasiums.

These gyms played a big role in Greek life. They were privately owned and even became a social hub for many of the men who trained there.

As shown, many of the lifts from ancient times evolved into lifts used within competitions today.

However there is more:

• Health benefits stayed almost constant (Just with more evidence today)
• Competitions from Ancient times are present today
• Training to make great soldiers

Works Cited

Heffernan, Conor. “How the Ancient World Lifted Weights.” BarBend, 16 Sept. 2019, barbend.com/history-of-strength-training/.

• This article goes over the individual history of weightlifting in ancient China, ancient India, ancient Egypt and ancient Greece. This does not go over specifically Olympic type of weightlifting, but rather the type of lifting each on did in their times. 

“Weightlifting Equipment and History - Olympic Sport History.” International Olympic Committee, 15 May 2018,  www.olympic.org/weightlifting-equipment-and-history .

• This article goes over Weightlifting within the Olympics itself. It also touches on a couple of countries success when it comes to the Olympics within weightlifting.

“Weightlifting.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,  www.britannica.com/sports/weightlifting .

• This article explains the history of weightlifting as well as who used to dominate within the sport. It also goes over the different lifts and weight classes. 

Bugh, Taylor. “The History of Weightlifting and Strength Training.” Home Gym Strength, 19 Aug. 2020, homegymstrength.com/the-history-of-weightlifting/.

• This article was written to tell the story of weightlifting in the 18th and 19th centuries as well as during ancient Greece times.

Heffernan, Conor. “The Untold History of Women in Strength Sports.” BarBend, 5 Apr. 2019, barbend.com/women-strength-sports-history/.

• This one goes over the history of Women within lifting sports. Such as, strongman, powerlifting, body building, CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting. They also touch on specific women who have changed their specific sports.

Rogers, Paul. “The History of Weight Training and Lifting.” Verywell Fit, 6 May 2018, www.verywellfit.com/the-history-of-weight-training-and-lifting-3498501. 

• This one goes over how the evolution of equipment, weightlifting and powelifting. It also touches on how weightlifting could possibly change in the future.