The gymnasium was built to provide a place for young Greeks to train themselves for military service. Starting out as sparse, open-air venues, on the outskirts of cities, they went on to become huge building complexes at the heart of the community. Wrestling was a popular pursuit, as was 'pankration', a particularly brutal form of boxing. Proceedings within the gymnasia were overseen by the gymnasiarch. It was his responsibility to procure the olive oil that coated the athletes and ensure that sporting standards were kept up, whilst seeing that those who bent the rules were duly punished.
