• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Language / Where did the word “Acrobat” originate and What does Acrobat mean in Greek?

Where did the word “Acrobat” originate and What does Acrobat mean in Greek?

July 1, 2020 by Karen Hill

From time immemorial, perhaps as proof of our relationship with the ape, man has amused himself by performing feats of daring upon ropes, ropes hanging from trees or high structures, or ropes tautly or loosely stretched high between two trees or other supports.

where did the word acrobat come from

In ancient Greece, skill in such feats became highly developed, though, like most paid entertainers of that era, the reputation of the performers was not above suspicion. Any such performer was known as an acrobat, one who walks aloft, from Greek akros, aloft, and batos, climbing or walking.

The full Greek term, akrobatos, is translated by some to mean walking on tiptoe.

Today we would call such a man a rope-walker or rope-dancer. But, although all the performers were classed as acrobats, among themselves or other well-informed persons they were separated into their several skills.

The neurobat was at the top of the profession; considered among them as the true acrobat, for, as the name signified, neuron, sinew , this aerial dancer exercised his skill upon tautly stretched cords the thickness of catgut.

So slender was the cord that, from a slight distance, he appeared to be dancing lightly upon air, sometimes playing the flute as he danced.

The schcenobat, from schoinion, rope twisted of rushes, performed upon a thick rope, suspended from aloft, climbing it to dizzy heights, as a sailor does, tumbling about it held by a foot or knee, and showing his great strength and agility.

Related Facts

  • What Was the Riddle of the Sphinx In Greek Mythology and What Does the Word Sphinx Mean In Greek?
  • What Does the Word "Gymnasium" Mean in Greek and How Did the Word "Stadium" Originate?
  • Who Were Orpheus and Eurydice In Greek Mythology and What Does Orpheus Mean In Greek?
  • Who Was Oedipus In Greek Mythology and What Does Oedipus Mean In Greek?
  • What Were the Adventures of Aeneas In Greek Mythology and What Does Aeneas Mean In Greek?
  • Who Were the Olympians In Ancient Greek Mythology and Where Did the Twelve Greek Gods Live?

Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « Where does the word “admiral” come from and What does it mean?
Next Post: Where does the word “acre” come from and What does it mean? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy