The historical implication of Lucian's (120〜190 A.D.) work, "Anacharsis" was investigated as a physical education thought. Following three points were clarified: 1. Lucian pointed out as the purposes of athletic contests (1) freedom for each individual and for the state in general, (2) wealth, (3) glory, (4) enjoyment of ancestral feast-days, (5) welfare for one's family, and as an ideal figure of contestants, (1) manly perfection, (2) physical-beauty, (3) best physical condition (4) glory, (5) unindomitable spirit and inexpressible ardor for victory, (6) indescribable fight His idea of contests seems to have a moralistic and educational significance. 2. His concept about the guardians of the polis attaches importance to education of the soul and building of the body, and it pointed out the following three items as the guardian's qualities, those are, (1) he has an elastic and harder body, (2) he has a courage, and (3) he is a superior man. This concept of his seems to be similar the Plato's thoughts in his "Republic". 3. He grasped that to visit or to observe a good contest is an important factor of motivation that leads young people to the practice of athletic games. Thus, it is felt that these three points give a new significance to the history of thoughts on physical education, because these findings have not been mentioned before.
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