Before gymnastic exercises, the body ought to be rubbed moderately first
with towels, and then with oil in the hollows of the naked hands, until
it be properly warmed and softened, and its surface have contracted a
florid blush, and become distended.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. A more circumstantial account of the mode of preparing the
body for gymnastic exercises is given by Oribasius. (Med. Collect. vi,
13.) It is taken, however, from Galen’s second book of ‘Hygiene.’ See a
similar account in Aëtius (iii, 1), and Avicenna (i, 3, 2.) The object
of it, according to Alexander Aphrodisiensis, was to soften the parts so
that they might not be ruptured. (Prob. i, 119.) To rub the body with
oil was a general practice of the ancients before strong exercises of
every kind. Hence Horace characterizes an inactive person by his dread
of oil, “Cur olivum Sanguine viperino cautius vitat?”—that is to say, as
his commentator Acron explains it, “Cur vitat olivum, id est oleum, quo
unctus tutius natet et luctetur?” The poet alludes to the practice in
another place: “Ter uncti Transnanto Tiberim.” It appears from Martial
that a composition of oil and wax, called _ceroma_, was sometimes used
for this purpose:
“Vara nec injecto ceromate brachia tendis.”
(Epigr. vii, 32.)
According to Thucydides, the Lacedemonians were the first who rubbed
their bodies with oil before wrestling. (i, 1.) Pliny mentions the use of
oil before the gymnastic exercises as a luxury introduced by the Greeks.
It appears from him that cheap aromatics were sometimes added to the oil.
He further relates that some barbarous nations used butter instead of
oil. (Hist. Nat. xi, 41.)
Athenæus mentions that Antiochus Epiphanes supplied the wrestlers at
Daphne with oil of saffron, of marjoram, and the like. (Deipn. v.)
Lucian makes Solon say to Anacharsis, that oil produces the same effect
upon the living body as upon leather, softening it, and rendering it
stronger and less apt to break. (Anacharsis.)
The poets describe Venus as preparing herself for exercise by being
rubbed with fragrant ointments, whereas Minerva disdained to use anything
but common oil. See Callimachus (Lav. Pall.) and Sophocles (ap. Athen.
Deipnos. xv, 35.)
The Roman emperors, and other luxurious persons, often made use of
perfumed ointments instead of oil. See Suetonius (in Vita Caligulæ),
Lampridius (in Vita Heliogabali.) It would appear that under the empire
the people of Rome were supplied gratuitously with oil in their public
baths. (Lamp. c. 24, and Burman, de V. R. c. iii.)