Conisterium

A conisterium (or conisterion) (Greek: κονιστἠριον) was an apartment in Greek and Roman gymnasiums. It was where sand or dust was stored, for use by wrestlers after they had been anointed with oil.[1] They would either sprinkle it on themselves,[2] or a slave would do it.[1] The purpose of this was so that during a fight, the oil or sweat would not prevent a wrestler from having a good grip on his opponent.[3] Conisteriums were also found in palaestras.[1] After a fight, or exercise, the powder was rubbed off with strigils, before the wrestler had a bath.[4]

References
  1. Harris, Cyril M. (1983). Illustrated Dictionary of Historic Architecture. Courier Dover Publications. pp. 132. ISBN 0-486-24444-X.
  2. Middleton, John Henry. The Remains of Ancient Rome. Volume 2. Adamant Media Corporation. p. 115. ISBN 1-4021-7473-X.
  3. Elmes, James (1824). A general and bibliographical dictionary of the fine arts.
  4. The Journal of Health. S. C. Atkinson. 1830. p. 317.

Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Conisterium" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 942.


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