The importance of water for human life is well known. PPOISTOPIKH AND CLASSIC GREECE
Today in the hustle and bustle of everyday life water has also become a "consumer" good. However, its special properties and its different effects in completely different areas often escape us.
IAMATIC IDIOTHS OF THE WATER
Thousands of years ago, however, our ancestors, apart from being aware of issues related to water, which modern science is slowly discovering, respected natural laws. That is, the implementation in practice of the ultimate effect of water on our biological body, our soul and our productive spirit. The choice of spring waters, the knowledge of their diversity and the categorization of their uses are recorded in the achievements of the Greeks.
The topic of the therapeutic use of water in antiquity is completely original and relatively unknown in the literature. Nuggets of references to "reservoirs" can be found in topographic plans, usually of archaeological sites. In ancient texts, the term "swimming pool" is found. A closer study reveals that in all "gymnasiums" (ancient gymnasiums) there were baths. A more careful study of the baths reveals, in turn, that they always had a swimming pool, sometimes smaller, sometimes larger, round, square or oblong. This was also the reason they chose as a suitable place for the "high school" areas with running water. Characteristically we mention the Lyceum of Aristotle, which also had a "gymnasium" and was built between the two rivers of Attica, Hridanos and Ilissos, where they connected the two beds with an artificial project and thus always had running water.
As for the one in the water swimming, in the ancient Greek texts we find many relevant references from the Homeric "Odyssey" up to the Hellenistic times. In the Odyssey (E 373) there is the reference to Odysseus falling into the water to swim:
"and this prone bird fell, here petassas nehemenai memaos". That is, "he didn't fall into the sea in a prone position, he stretched out his arms desiring to swim".
However, as the first recorded, according to the archaeological research, swimming tank-swimming pool, we have the tank of the mansion-palace in Zakros in eastern Crete. The tank in question is circular, with a diameter of seven meters and presents the following amazing technical system: The bottom has been constructed with a layering of inert materials in such a way that filtered water enters from the bottom, flows to the surface, where it overflows the surplus, because the continuous flow is ensured by an altitude-superior source of running water. PPOISTOPIKH AND CLASSIC GREECE
This technique is currently applied in state-of-the-art swimming pools, because usually the water enters at a depth of about one meter from the surface, with the result that water recycling does not take place perfectly in the space deeper than one meter. In order to understand this pioneering technique of the Minoans, we can compare any other modern swimming pool with the swimming pools of the Olympic Center of Athens (OAKA), which are the only ones that today, in 2000 AD, have the same technique as the Minoan. That is, the recirculation flow from the bottom to the surface. Let us also note that in the ancient Cretan swimming pool the large slab of porous stone, through which the water gushed forth, functioned as a cleaning filter, and if we even consider that this mansion dates back to around 1450 BC. The relevant announcement was made by Mrs. Palyvou, archaeologist-architect, in her speech at the Military Museum regarding the baths of the ancient Greeks.
However, of unique importance for the history of Minoan architecture is the inclusion of this tank within the architectural framework of the palace. The operation of the pool continues to this day, because it still remains full from the gushing water at a certain high level today. The walls are carefully covered with hydraulic mortar, most of which is preserved, and there are other archaeological proofs that the area was covered. In other words, it is a small closed swimming pool 3,500 years old, with slightly brackish water, but still drinkable today. A short distance away, the spring chamber was fed by the same vein. Several sections of stone aqueduct were collected in the reservoir embankment. This pipe drained the excess water, so that the level inside the tank remained constant. PPOISTOPIKH AND CLASSIC GREECE
In Crete, another installation similar to this tank dating back to the neo-palatial times was found. This is described in Evans' monumental work (2nd volume) about the palace of Knossos, but it was never systematically excavated and today's research is not possible, because a modern house has been built over it. This location is located in the town of Archanai, just ten kilometers from Knossos, at the foot of the sacred mountain Iyttos, today's Iukta. That pool, according to Evans, had a similar construction, with a paved bottom, five descending steps, and water gushing from the bottom. In fact, according to Mr. Sakellarakis, there was a system of pipelines for the excess water that was saved in a satisfactory condition.
A third circular tank, with a stepped descent, much larger than the two previous ones, was found in Tylissos. It belonged to the post-palatial period and was built after the destruction of the underlying Minoan mansion.
Returning to the ancient texts, we note that Hippocrates, the wise scientific physician from Kos, mentions in his writings the beneficial effect of water on the body and its medicinal properties as a special spa, depending on the properties of each source but also on the mental healing effect of any water. It also proves that the suspension of the body, through lifting, positively affects the human psyche and if due attention had been paid to these legacies bequeathed to us by our ancestors, the causes of today's mental, spiritual and clearly of our physical fatigue.
It is enough to reflect that in all Asklepiia there were special small healing (mainly mental health) reservoirs, which were part of each therapeutic treatment. In two of the largest Asklepiia of the ancient world, which we have studied on site, of Kos and Pergamum, there are these tanks still full of water. That is, even today their irrigation systems are working after two and a half thousand years.
It should also be noted that the psychically healing effect of suspending the body, and thus the soul, within the liquid element is only now beginning to be investigated by modern science. Unfortunately, the archaeologists, not knowing in particular about the human body and soul, incorrectly recorded, not intentionally of course, that these small tanks of Asklepiia were only for cleansing the body. A more thorough study of ancient Greek thought in these areas presents us with a completely different concept, of this prevention in favor of health through water. PPOISTOPIKH AND CLASSIC GREECE
The issue of curing rheumatic and other diseases, as a result of spa treatments in thermal springs, is completely different. Hippocrates, as well as older medical scientists, knew the healing properties of the mineral waters of special thermal springs. Characteristically, we mention that for specific diseases, patients were sent from Asklepiion of Kos to the thermal baths of the nearby volcanic island of Nisyros. Hippocrates mentions specific healing springs for specific cases of healing patients.
More light is shed if we study Hippocrates' preventive medicine, his references to what we must do to stay healthy. This is precisely where the deepest reason for the existence and operation of swimming pools in the premises of the ancient gymnasiums lies. According to Philostratos, of the family of historians from Lemnos, during the Roman occupation, we have the information of swimming training in a swimming pool. The described incident refers to a slightly earlier era, the first century in particular. A complete private sports center is described in Hellenic India, during the journey of Apollonius Tyaneos to the Greek priesthood of the highlands of the central-northern Indian peninsula (Bios of Apollonius Tyaneos). The sports center had in the center the tank, continuous flow and recirculation and on either side corridors of throws, jumps and roads. He specifically mentions that after training in running and other events, training in the water followed:
"And if he was this one and both of them, it will be washed away." And the heavenly paradise the length of the stadium, the middle swimming pool, a well-grown spring with drinking and cold water, and the separate roads were, in the lances and discs, the Greek way, the self rises, and because the body falls under the age - seven for it has been twenty years since he was under him until he was trained. And there he had enough water and trained himself in the water". PPOISTOPIKH AND CLASSIC GREECE
"And at the same time he led Apollonius and his companions to where he used to bathe. The baths were a garden one stadia long, in the center of which a pool had been opened, where sources of drinking and cold water were channeled, while on both sides there were corridors, in which, according to Greek custom, they exercised with javelin and discus and his body was robust both because of age – for he was twenty-seven years old – but also thanks to this exercise. And when he exercised enough, he would dive into the water and continue to exercise by swimming" (Bios of Apolloniou Tyaneos, volume 1 - chapter XXXVII, Georgiadis editions).
This tactic of the combined training of the athletes of the various "sacred sports" with training in the water, gave, according to the written testimonies, an advantage in their athletic performance. According to the only book on physical education that has been preserved (Gymnasticos Filostratos), the Olympic boxing champion Tisandros trained at sea, to improve the ability of his hands, as it is characteristically stated. Therefore, we should not be surprised by the fact that, where there were "gymnasiums" and "baths", there was also a "swimming pool", i.e. a large swimming pool. We have archeologically recorded swimming pools in Olympia, Delphi, Dion, Corinth, etc.
The open Olympic swimming pool, dimensions 24 x 16 m., of the 5th BC. century, west of the palaestra and the workshop of Pheidias, supplied with water from the adjacent river Kladeos, but destroyed in the 1st BC. century, to build the Baths.
Answering the reasonable question where it can arise, that is why there was no swimming as a competition of the Olympic games, we should take into account that there were swimming competitions in honor of deities, but also in other places and not in Olympia. And this is because the sacred tradition of the Greeks did not associate any divine event with a swimming competitive event, which was the case with all the other sports of the Olympic games (OGYGIA, Ath. Stageiritou), therefore they were not allowed to be held in Olympia as non-sacred Olympic sports under the protection of Zeus.
According to inscriptions, swimming competitions were held during antiquity in Panathenaia (Phaleros Bay - Munich), in Sounio in honor of Poseidon, in Kranidi in honor of Dionysos Melanigidos of Hermionidos (Pausanias B35, 1), as well as in other Greek cities.
Returning now to the swimming pools, commonly known as swimming pools, we should point out that in all cases they had a continuous recirculation of cold natural water, with a special network, which in some cases is partially preserved to this day. A similar case is the swimming pool on the island of Kō, where after an on-site investigation we discovered the source that supplied the swimming pool with water and part of the underground ducts, which crossed almost the entire paved corridor of the archaeological site. This reservoir was reconstructed at the end of the Hellenic period, because geological disasters had occurred on the island as a whole. Its original construction, we have not yet been able to find out exactly when it was installed. Its length is 28 meters without the width of the semicircular spaces it has at both ends, suitable for learning beginners or for relaxation. Its width is 16 meters without the third semicircular space that exists on one of the two long sides. This reservoir - swimming pool is located in a sports area with a gymnasium and a gymnasium. Right next to it there are excellent mosaics with mythological, but also symbolic - initiatory representations for those in the know. It is appropriate to mention that the distance of Asklepiion of the island of Kos is 1020 stadia from the sanctuary of Apollo of Delos. However, this number is obtained if we add the numerical value of the three letters-numbers (Greek numbering system) of the name of the island. That is, K=20, Ω=800, Σ=200, 20+800+200=1020, as many as the stages according to the measurements of the late Theophanis Manias with the help of the geographical service of the Greek army (The masterpieces of the Ancient Greeks). PPOISTOPIKH AND CLASSIC GREECE
It would be remiss of us not to mention another swimming tank-pool that survives in Greater Greece (today's Lower Italy), specifically in Poseidonia, of which we have clear information regarding the sacred ceremonies that took place. With dimensions of 47×21m. we can talk about a large swimming pool, which is located inside the precinct of Ieros and dates back to the 3rd century BC. In this "reservoir" until 1964, the water recirculation functioned normally, when for some reason it suddenly became empty. The large water extraction passages are visible. The floor had a thin layer of beaten clay, and on its eastern side there is a small ledge, on which they moved the statue of Aphrodite, because the Sanctuary was in her honor. Then they "baptized" the statue of Aphrodite in the tank and the representation of the emerging Venus was made from the scale of the wall to the north. This celebration was called "Aphrodite", during which the statue was brought out in a procession and led to the west side, on a wooden platform. This was followed by the laying of flowers and other ornaments with ceremonies for the vegetation. then they would dive into the pool and swim for purification and to participate in the sacraments, and the women who participated were married because it was considered a eugenics ceremony. At the same time, the sanctuary was also dedicated to "men's luck" from the women's side. All this information is preserved by the historian Ovid. Here we find a different perspective from the other cases of swimming "tanks", but we find that the knowledge of swimming was considered a given by men and women, at the time of the application of the Greek worldview in practice.
Finally, again from Poseidonia, we have the amazing painting of a man attempting to dive into a swimming pool from a high diving board, in a style that would be the envy of even modern divers. This particular depiction comes from the "tomb of the diver" and dates back to 480 BC. In other words, at the time of the naval battle of Salamis, in order to better understand the magnitude of this shocking find, the Greeks in Lower Italy, but also apparently in many other parts of the Greek World, took moments of rest in their private, but also in public swimming pools of Greek cities.
With this only small recording of some recorded swimming "tanks", which was made after careful research and many times from on-site visits to the aforementioned places, the trigger is given for further research and data collection for at least dozens of cases. It is a topic unknown to the general public and quite obscure even to scholars of ancient Greek sports. May our research be successful in this direction.