What games did AtG play as a kid?

[ianthe]

Hi everyone,I'm always been interested in Alexander and contemporaries, have been intrigued by your discussions in the Forum.I was curious about what games Alexander and his friends would have played. I've read references about them playing a ball game in a court presumably with teams (?), but have never heard what this game was called or what the rules of it were. So just wondering, like boys today play football or baseball or whatever, does anyone know what were typical games for boys in Alexande's time? Or where I might find information about such details of mundane life in Alexander's time?Also, have encountered a list including Alexander the Great as a famous cat-hater. I would be saddened if it was true as I've always been under impression Alexander was a lover of animals (horses and dogs at least) and that Mediterranean peoples in general had favorable attitude toward cats. Anyone know if Alexander the Cat-Hater has any basis in sources?Cheers!
Ianthe

[marcus]

I can't give an immediate answer on the games, although I do have an article on childhood games in Classical Greece, which would have been pretty much the same for Alexander. I shall try to find it and post the details for you.On the cats - there's nothing to suggest that Alexander was a cat hater, it's a myth. Admittedly, there's no evidence that he particularly liked them, and he did like killing lions ... but that's as far as it goes. See the article on Internet myths on this website for more!All the bestMarcus

[amyntoros]

There are also many sites on the web describing children's games in ancient Greece, but how many of them were also played by adults (apart from knucklebones)? I mean, how many of us are still playing leapfrog? :-)There's a website http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/w/x/w ... eball.html
which is ostensibly about Roman ball games although many of the descriptions come from Greek vases. Most of them depict children at play, but the one called Phaininda is shown with adult athletes and judging by the description is definitely a possibility for the game Alexander played.Best regards,Amyntoros

[ruthaki]

The boys started going to the gymnasium at quite an early age and there were foot races for kids as young as five. So a lot of his time would taken up with those kinds of sports. Of course riding horses too. And learning skills with the bow and javelin were important at an early age.Marcus, I'd love to see the article on Children's Games in Ancient Greece. Could use some new ideas for details in my novel (in regards to Alexander IV's childhood).

[marcus]

I remember that the article I'm thinking of was in "History Today", and it was some years ago. But it was fascinating. I shall try to find it in the next day or so (I'm out all day tomorrow, to might not get a chance to look until thursday).ATBMarcus

[stavros]

Pancration, the ancient greek martial art along with Greco Wrestling. Both these were most likely high on the agenda for ATG as it was for any ancient greek in the military.

[ianthe]

Thank you for the information! I would also be interested in the article that Marcus mentioned if you can find it. I just find Alexander's childhood very hard to imagine, and so am rather fascinated by it.cheers:)
Ianthe