Dielkystinda or Tug by many with a rope.

This ancient Greek athletic game, comes from eons ago, since the times of the expeditions of Dionysus, Heracles and Alexander the Great.

There are references to this game in the ancient Greek written tradition such as Homer, Theaetetos etc.

Dielkystinda was an Olympic game until 1920 and today International Organizations are making efforts to bring it back.

The game was played until a few years ago, in schools and playgrounds in many variations.

It could be played by many players, divided into two teams. On the ground, they drew a straight line. Then, on both sides of this line they drew an equidistant parallel line.

On the ground, perpendicular to the parallel lines a long rope was placed. The middle of the rope was placed over the middle parallel.

The teams lined up, behind the external parallels.

The players at the end of the line were called anchors. The anchors grabbed the rope, wrapped it around their waist and held on tight.

On the first signal the players squatted and stretched the rope. On the second signal the teams pulled the rope in order to bring the middle of the rope over the parallel that was on their side.

The team that stood on the midfield line lost.