We are spoilt for choices when it comes to playing and following any sport. Football, cricket, basketball, baseball, athletics, and what not, it's a barrage of options. While we are absolutely delighted to have them all in our lives, there are other sport that we have been critical about, for the nature of violence that exists within them. The MMA being one such example.
We hate violence, but what if that's all a particular sport is about? The loser pays the price by losing his life, and the winner breathes a sigh of relief. Yes, such sports did exist. There were many ancient sports that were bloody and brutal. Here are 7 of them that no longer exist, luckily:
ThoughtCo
When we hear about gladiators, scenes from films and series based on Romans and Greeks, come to mind. The packed arenas, people shouting their lungs out, fierce struggle. Well, we might have seen them on television, but gladiator fights was one of the famous sport in ancient Rome. It was not for the faint hobby. It was all or nothing. Losing a battle meant losing your life. It was usually slaves fighting for their lives. Not at all pleasant.?
Lifeberrys
Ancient Rome had an unusual lust for blood. It wasn't just gladiator fights, but another sport - Venatio too, that was a normal part of the culture. This sport though was a different beast. Men were placed face to face with opponents like lions, tigers, bears and elephants. The task required a person to kill the animal. Despite the unequal battle, it was the animals who used to take the worst against humans armed with weapons and armor. A very barbaric sport indeed.
The pole was sport practiced by troops to guard the king and the elite troops of the army. Also for a practice match for the gun battle, that was more violent. In the version of sport practiced in Manipur, asset hold the ball with wooden hands - something forbidden in today¡¯s games, in which the ball rolls on the field and should be moved only clubs wielded by the different players on horseback. The rules once gave freedom to the player to hit his opponent with the bat to steal the round. Ughhh!
Daily Express
Another one from the middle ages, this sport was nothing close to being safe. Two horsemen would be pitted against each other, wearing heavily coated armor, and wielding a large spear. The goal was to topple the opponent and pass through it. The collateral damage though was nothing but death.?
Ancient Origins
This sport was another ancient spectacle. It had rules though, a little bit strange. No biting and no ripping the opponent's eyes. Did that make it less violent? Nada, players used to utilize boxing and fighting Greek techniques, until the opponent was close to death. What?
Italy Magazine
Today, we have the Formula 1, but much before it was the chariot race. It was another popular sport in Greece and Rome. It might sound interesting, but it wasn't all plain sailing. It put both the driver and the four horses pulling the carriage. The racecourse has its own turbulence: steep curves, and opponents trying to turn your carriage upside down, it was no ordinary sport. Death could be the result, too.
Ships placed in battle, in lakes or ponds built for the clash, known as naumaquias. The goal was to stage epic battles war, sinking the ship of playmates of the other ¡°team¡± - and many of them ended up dying in the middle of the game, of course. The game was first organised by Julius Caesar. At the time, 2000 combatants and 4000 rowers were put to be part of this bloody game, many recruited from among the prisoners of war. Scary and insane.?
Would you dare try any of it? Me, never.??