n a horse were necessary to succeed in this event (FHWJ 1,2). Linking to the rough Greek countryside and warfare, the soldiers had the advantage in the jumping event. In order to move quickly in battle, long jumping was crucial in the countryside with many ravines. Mainly being an event in the decathlon, the jumping contest was rarely used as a separate event.The earliest equipment used in jumping events were stone or lead weights called halteres. They were made in various shapes and sizes so that the athlete could grip it. Varying in weight, their main purpose was to increase the length of the jump. On one side of the fifty foot jumping pit, there was a fixed point called the bater. This was a point from where all jumps were measured. By swinging the halteres and getting a running start, the athlete would then jump and hold onto the weights until the end of his flight, then throw them backwards. He then came down onto the soil with his feet together, with his jumped being measured with a wooden rod called a kanon.A good jumper needed quick acceleration within the limited runway. Coordination and power was essential in using the bater for proper spring in their jump. It all had to be put together for the proper execution of kicking, swinging the arms, and of throwing the weights in the air. A flute player was sometimes used in helping the athlete perform the proper rhythm and musical flow of the jump (FHWJ 1,2). The sport of running was the true ancient form of athletic competition. This sport is so ancient there is no true way to clarify the exact time or origin for the beginning of the sport of running. Running was an important part of childrens education as they learned of the techniques and philosophies.Runners began by wearing a loin cloth around their waist, then abandoned it and started running completely naked. One exception was a separate event in which the runners would race in complete armor, consisting of ...
