The Gymnopaedia, in ancient Sparta

Sparta

Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...

, was a yearly celebration during which naked

Nudity

Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...

 youths displayed their athletic and martial skills through the medium of war dancing

War dance

A war dance is a dance involving mock combat, usually in reference to tribal warrior societies where such dances were performed as a ritual connected with endemic warfare....

. The custom was introduced in 668 B.C., concurrently with the introduction of naked athletics, oiling the body for exercise so as to highlight its beauty.

Gymnopaedia (also written Gymnopaediae or Gymnopaidiai) derives from the ancient Greek .