"MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO"
THE TRIANGULAR FORUM, THE SAMNITE PALAESTRA, THE LARGE PALAESTRA
In classical culture, particularly in the Roman world, a significant aspect of paramount importance is the idea that there should be harmony between an individual’s intellectual upkeep and physical exercise, state of body and state of mind. Usually only members of the upper class practice this, as often they are the individuals with both the means and time to do so. This is made evident through the writings in “Satires” by Roman author Juvenal (otherwise known as Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis), wherein he states his famous phrase- mens sana in corpore sano meaning “a sound mind in a healthy body.”
An important Pompeian building therefore would be the Triangular Forum wherein athletic contests such as footraces, wrestling, boxing, long jumps, discus throwing as well as carrying halteres or weights and horseback riding would have taken place. This is apparent in the design of the building as the eastern entryway was flanked by an open passageway of equal length which suggests that this would’ve been used as both a public passageway and an area used in training for races. This is also supported by the fact that the Samnite Palestra, a central space for athletic exercises and demonstrations, opens directly into it. The Samnite Palestra being another area in Pompeii of great importance in terms of physical exercise, a key feature being that it contains a destrictarium, a room where athletes applied a mixture made of oils and stone dust that acted as a firming cream.
An important Pompeian building therefore would be the Triangular Forum wherein athletic contests such as footraces, wrestling, boxing, long jumps, discus throwing as well as carrying halteres or weights and horseback riding would have taken place. This is apparent in the design of the building as the eastern entryway was flanked by an open passageway of equal length which suggests that this would’ve been used as both a public passageway and an area used in training for races. This is also supported by the fact that the Samnite Palestra, a central space for athletic exercises and demonstrations, opens directly into it. The Samnite Palestra being another area in Pompeii of great importance in terms of physical exercise, a key feature being that it contains a destrictarium, a room where athletes applied a mixture made of oils and stone dust that acted as a firming cream.
In Pompeii, however, physical fitness was more emphasized and often associated with preparing for military service. Therefore we get the impression that sports would only really be for men, especially those that were young as they probably would’ve been the focus for training and disciplining. The people would practice sports activities mainly in the gymnasiums and palestrae- making Pompeii’s building the Large Palestra of great importance in those days, as a combination of athleticism, military preparation and obedience was practiced. We know this from the decorative merlons along the top of the front wall which we can assume served as an architectural allusion or motivation for readiness in battle. Merlons being the vertical part of a wall of a fort or a battlement. This building centered around a huge courtyard with entryways around three of its four sides, with a large swimming pool or natatio in the middle used for swimming and other aquatic sports. In this building they would have also been taught proper horsemanship and other useful military exercises, and so therefore the Large Palestra is vital in making evident the shift in attitudes towards disciplining men to be loyal as well as militarily fit for Pompeii. However, not only was this building for these young men, but also open and visited by other citizens of Pompeii who came here in their leisurely time. This is also supported by the numerous graffiti reflecting other matters such as public complaints by schoolmasters, and references to gladiatorial battles that would have taken place next door in the Amphitheatre. In the form of this evidence we get the impression that people must have found the Large Palaestra as a space free to the public, those who might be looking for a place for a break, to eat, drink and visit the toilets or latrines.