[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_title margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=””]

Massage in ancient Greece

[/fusion_title][fusion_text] It is said that the word “massage” came from the Arabic word “mass” or “mach”, which means “gentle pressure”. Others attribute its origin to the Latin word “massa”, which means “what sticks to the fingers”. There are also those who warmly claim that it originates from the Greek verb “matto”, which means “manipulate with my hands”. Whatever the roots of the word, massage was very important in ancient Greece. In fact, even Hippocrates, the father of medical science, used massage to treat several diseases. He also wrote that “massage can relax and tighten the human body or even decrease body fat.” Massage and exercise In ancient Greece, massage was originally used extensively in athletes. According to ancient sources, the massage took place before and after training. In fact, a number of vessels have been found in which there are representations of this process. In ancient Greece, there were specific professionals – like today’s coaches- who massaged their athletes after training, using oils or special powders. When the benefits of massage became better known, its use began to spread. This brought the creation of “medical therapy”, in order to be applied to peoplewith little or no strength. It wasn’t long before it got connected with the general well-being and the concept of body cleansing. Then, oils that were traditionally used in massage were mixed with essential oils, for the first time. Massage also appears in scenes of many important ancient texts. For example, in Homer’s “Odyssey”, Circe anoints Odysseus with oil and then rubs him. In this particular Homeric piece, as well as in “Iliada”, there are many scenes in which heroes rub their bodies with oil and other aromatic oil liquids. Giota Florou Translated by Katerina Kontolati [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]