DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3720#0032
16 DOMESTIC HABITS OF THE EGYPTIANS.
attained without severe tuition. The company of tumblers be-
longed to a proprietor, who instructed them in the art; and a
sharp chastisement was often inflicted during the " rehearsals"
on a negligent performer. Many of them were foreign slaves ;
as were some of those who constituted a higher class of
performers, and who excelled in a dance consisting of graceful
posture, analogous to the "Ionic movements" of Greece, and
the Almeli gestures of modern Egypt,
Games of ball were also favourite amusements; and they
had various ways of playing. Women were again the prin-
cipal performers ; and their mode of throwing up several balls,
and catching them in succession, was a piece of dexterity
which excited admiration in those as in modern days. At
other times, one person, seated on the back of a companion,
threw the ball to the opposite player, until one of the two,
failing to catch it, lost the post of honour, and was in turn
obliged to submit herself to the same beast-of-burthen office;
in token of which, the Greeks, who also had this game, gave to
the bearers the name of "Asses," while the riders were called
"Kings." In another game, the
performer threw the ball as high
as she could; and then leaping up,
caught it before her feet touched
the ground again—corresponding
to the ovpavia ("skyball") of the
Greeks; and it was sometimes
thrown to the opposite player,
who caught it in the same manner
(w-i■) while jumping from the ground.
Others threw and caught it standing on one leg, with their
hands behind their back.*
* See P. A. of Ancient Egyptians, vol. i. p. 199; figs. 4, 5, 6.
attained without severe tuition. The company of tumblers be-
longed to a proprietor, who instructed them in the art; and a
sharp chastisement was often inflicted during the " rehearsals"
on a negligent performer. Many of them were foreign slaves ;
as were some of those who constituted a higher class of
performers, and who excelled in a dance consisting of graceful
posture, analogous to the "Ionic movements" of Greece, and
the Almeli gestures of modern Egypt,
Games of ball were also favourite amusements; and they
had various ways of playing. Women were again the prin-
cipal performers ; and their mode of throwing up several balls,
and catching them in succession, was a piece of dexterity
which excited admiration in those as in modern days. At
other times, one person, seated on the back of a companion,
threw the ball to the opposite player, until one of the two,
failing to catch it, lost the post of honour, and was in turn
obliged to submit herself to the same beast-of-burthen office;
in token of which, the Greeks, who also had this game, gave to
the bearers the name of "Asses," while the riders were called
"Kings." In another game, the
performer threw the ball as high
as she could; and then leaping up,
caught it before her feet touched
the ground again—corresponding
to the ovpavia ("skyball") of the
Greeks; and it was sometimes
thrown to the opposite player,
who caught it in the same manner
(w-i■) while jumping from the ground.
Others threw and caught it standing on one leg, with their
hands behind their back.*
* See P. A. of Ancient Egyptians, vol. i. p. 199; figs. 4, 5, 6.