Etymology of Gymnastics and Gymnasium

The first, ‘gymnastics’, is known in Latin as gymnasticus, and in Greek as gymnastikos, which is interpreted as nudity in the context of exercise, associated with the verb gymnazein, for practicing or training in the nude, as determined by gymnos, which refers to ‘naked’, from the Indo-European root expressed in *nogw-, carrying the same context in order to emphasize the flexibility and muscles of the body , as they were freely exposed in Ancient Greece, as well as the activation of the mind. The space dedicated for this purpose, which was of a public nature, gradually took shape, along with the elements used, and even encompassed the idea of an educational center. Thus, the gymnasium finds reference in the Latin gymnasĭum, from the Greek gymnásion.

It is an artistic expression that exhibits the versatility and strength that can be achieved by the human body, as a result of constant dedication and effort, and is currently being explored through sports competitions at the Olympic level.

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