Archeologists discover ancient gymnasium near Egypt's Cairo

This undated photo released by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities shows an ancient gymnasium dating back about 2,300 years, from the Hellenistic period. (Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities via AP)

By Associated Press

November 13, 2017

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Egypt's antiquities ministry says archaeologists have discovered remnants of an ancient gymnasium dating back about 2,300 years. That makes it from the Hellenistic period.

The discovery was made by a German-Egyptian mission at the site of Watfa. That is in Fayoum province. It is about 50 miles southwest of the capital, Cairo.

Watfa is the site of the ancient village of Philoteris, founded by King Ptolemy II in the 3rd century BC.

Ayman Ashmawi of the ministry says the gymnasium consists of a large meeting hall. It was once adorned with statues, a dining hall, a courtyard and a nearly 200-meter-long racetrack.

Cornelia Roemer, head of the mission, says the discovery clearly shows the impact of Greek life in Egypt, not only in Alexandria, but also in the countryside.

Filed Under: Culture Science World news

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CRITICAL THINKING QUESTION

Why would ancient people have a gym?

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COMMENTS (64)

EoinM-del

11/14/2017 - 03:44 p.m.

Man tge things you can find. I found tge autgors weiting was great. Also tge story is intresting and teaches me more.

ChloeT-del

11/14/2017 - 04:18 p.m.

This article is about a gymnasium found by archaeologists. It used to have a meeting hall, a dining hall, statues, and a courtyard. A German-Egyptian mission made the discovery. The head of the mission, Cornelia Roemer, said that the gymnasium gives us a sense of what the Egyptians were like.

ZofiaT-del

11/14/2017 - 04:18 p.m.

This article is about how a Egyptian gymnasium was found in a Egyptian-German mission in Egypt. The structure dates back to 2300 years ago. The gymnasium had a dining hall, courtyard, statues and a 200 meter long racetrack.

JosephF-del

11/14/2017 - 04:29 p.m.

They need a gym because everyone needs to excercise. Everyone knew this since the beginning of time.

AngelinaB-del

11/14/2017 - 04:37 p.m.

This article is about how archaeologists discovered an ancient gymnasium near Egypt's Ciaro. This gymnasium is about 2,300 years old. It used to consist of a large meeting hall, statues, a dining hall, a courtyard and a 200-meter-long racetrack. This gymnasium was founded by King Ptolemy II in the 3rd century BC.

GabriellaJ-del

11/14/2017 - 04:43 p.m.

The ancient people might have a gymnasium because of the ancient soldiers. it was believed that men must always know how to fight in certain groups.

KahlilW-del

11/14/2017 - 04:45 p.m.

Ancient people would have a gym to work out a get fit maybe for wars or fights to prepare for them

ChloeR-del

11/14/2017 - 04:54 p.m.

Ancient people have a gym because sports were very important to them. Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and the regions they controlled had many gymnasiums where they practiced sports like: racing, javelin, discus throw. They also used the gym to socialize with big meeting and dining halls.

IsabellaM-del

11/14/2017 - 05:06 p.m.

The main idea of this story is about archaeologists finding an ancient gymnasium in Egypt's Cairo. I thought this story was very boring.

WilliamF-del

11/14/2017 - 05:09 p.m.

So they had gyms in the Hellenistic period. It amazing that ideas from Greece went all the way to Egypt. Greece are supposed to be "smart" after all.