Re: Big-up Throwing Stones | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Big-up Throwing Stones

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Stooges Apr 20, 2006 14:11:25

Replying to StoneLifter

Hello.
The Highland Games - from which the modern Olympics descends, still has rock and stone throwing contests. It is thought that some of these events sprang forth in the guise of a game but were actually warfare training when weapons were banned. It is the same with Karate weapons (nachaku etc) they arrived as weapons when swords etc were banned in Okinawa.
Don't know how this helps but there you have it.

Thanks.
Stooges

jacksprat Apr 20, 2006 15:32:03

Replying to Stooges

>>The Highland Games, From which the modern olympic descends...

I've got to disagree with that. The modern olympics derive from The Ancient Greek Olympics - and were held every four years at Olympia, a district of Elis. Any free Greek men were entitled to compete, you had to be able to speak Greek though. The first Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C. and the last in A.D. 393, when they were abolished by Emperor Theodosius. Who felt it an insult to Christianity.

There are lots of theories as to why the games were started, such as Hurcules honouring Zues or the rivalry between Pelops & Oinomaos, but the modern version certainly derives from ancient greek, not celtic tradition.