Gymnasium (ancient Greece) the Greek noun γυμνάσιον ("gymnasion"), "gymnastic school", in pl. "bodily exercises" and generally "school" which in turn is derived from the common Greek adjective ("gymnos") meaning "naked", by way of the related verb γυμνάζω ("gymnazo"), whose meaning is "to train naked", "train in gymnastic exercise", generally "to train, to exercise". The verb had this meaning because one undressed for exercise. Historically, the gymnasium was used for exercise, communal bathing, and scholarly and philosophical pursuits. The English noun "gymnast", first recorded in 1594, is formed from the Greek γυμναστής ("gymnastēs"), but in Greek this word means "trainer" not "gymnast". The "palaistra"
Ancient Olympic Games of (mid-summer) 765 BC for the first year of the first Olympiad. Nevertheless, there is disagreement among scholars as to when the games began. The only competition held then was, according to the later Greek traveller Pausanias who wrote in AD175, the "stadion" race, a race over about , measured after the feet of Hercules. The word "stadium" is derived from this foot race. The Greek tradition of athletic nudity (gymnos) was introduced in 720 BC, either by the Spartans or by the Megarian Orsippus, and this was adopted early in the Olympics as well. Several groups fought over control