Ancient Physical Culture in Polish-Language Literature of the Enlightenment

Abstract

The Enlightenment comprises various processes occurring in Europe from the middle of the eighteenth century to at the beginning of the nineteenth century. This era was a breakthrough in social, ideological, and political life. It was also an era of rediscovery and re-evaluation of antiquity, especially concerning physical culture. Enlightenment thought and knowledge from Western Europe, including that on antiquity and ancient physical culture, were also transferred to Poland, in various aspects of social and cultural life. Knowledge about ancient physical culture contained in Polish works that appeared in 1740–1830 demonstrates that it was similar to that in Enlightenment Europe. From the analysis provided in Enlightenment works depicting ancient physical culture, it is clear that knowledge about it was extensive. What is more, the knowledge of ancient physical culture in Greece and Rome that Polish thinkers had was much more comprehensive than has been believed. Despite social and political changes, the loss of Polish sovereignty, and numerous repressions caused by the partitioning powers, publications on ancient physical culture influenced the development of physical education and sport in Polish territory.