How Were Sports and Competitions in Ancient Rome Different From Today?

We have a lot to thank the Ancient Romans for. They and the Ancient Greeks are responsible for pioneering many of society’s technologies, norms, and governmental structures.

Roads, aqueducts, bridges, sewer systems, and many architectural techniques were all pioneered by the Roman Empire. As a testament to their work on this latter point, many Roman-era buildings scatter the world today, with examples in Rome itself as well as the United Kingdom, Jordan, and Croatia.

The Romans deserve credit for many things that you may not associate with the empire, including plastic surgery, central heating, and lotteries. In fact, the Romans loved making wagers on sports, games, and just about anything else they could bet on. Many resemble what we see today, such as the wheel-based game of roulette, one of the most popular titles nowadays.  Roman soldiers are believed to have fashioned their own wheels out of shields for their comrades to then bet on.

There are many other examples of our modern sports actually originating in Ancient Rome too, here are some others.

Horse Riding and Racing

The Romans loved horses, they loved riding them, and they loved racing them. One of the most famous Roman sports was chariot racing, where horses would pull a chariot behind them, usually around an oval track.

The Romans didn’t invent chariot racing as the Greeks and Etruscans had also created the sport, but it was deeply ingrained into the culture of the empire. Circus Maximus was the biggest and most prestigious chariot racing venue in Rome, though other circuses also organized their races right across Europe.

Like with today’s Thoroughbred horse racing, the Romans used selective breeding to birth horses that were genetically suited to competing, with characteristics that make them able to reach faster speeds, accelerate quickly, and have the stamina to endure a full race.

The main difference today is that riders tend to sit on the horse rather than have it pull a chariot. Like in Rome, many horse racing fans enjoy placing bets on modern races, though the technology used for this today is much more advanced.

For Romans, just as modern horse racing fans, heading to the local racetrack was an important social occasion that many people used to spend time with friends.

Wrestling and Boxing

Many of us take part in combat sports today as it’s a great way to build strength, relieve tension, and get our heart rates up. You can find plenty of local gyms where you can practice your wrestling and boxing skills, as well as spar with others.

Millions of people from around the world tune in to watch high-profile boxing matches between big-name fighters like Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton. Many more also watch events put on by professional wrestling organizations like the WWE.

Both of these sports were incredibly popular among Romans too. They were often practiced at bathhouses, which were at the center of Roman life. They were seen (as they are today) as great ways to improve overall fitness, stamina, and strength.

Boxing was known to the Romans as pugilists and fighters wouldn’t wear boxing gloves (since they hadn’t been invented), but they would wrap their hands in clothes to soften the blows. The winner would be the one that didn’t surrender first.

Ball Games

Ball games are some of the most played and watched sports in the 21st century. In Europe and South America, soccer is the most popular, while in North America and Australia, unique variants of football reign supreme. Rugby is another ball sport that has a strong global following.

While England is believed to be the birthplace of these football games, the Romans also had their own ball games, some of which bore many resemblances.

One of these was harpastum, a game that has many similarities with modern rugby games. Historical accounts aren’t detailed enough to accurately recreate the rules of this ball game, but we do understand the premise of the game was to get the ball over your opponent’s line and prevent them from doing the same to you.

It was a sport that required players to have a mixture of speed, agility, and stamina. Like in modern rugby, harpastum would get very rough and players would often get injured after being thrown to the ground.