The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Sport in Middle-Earth

Birdland · 08-12-2002, 05:13 PM

Since the hobbits had evolved from a hunting/gathering "wandering" people, to a more agrarian society, I image that many of their sports probably involved what once were survival tactics.

I imagine that hunting was done more for sport in the Shire of Frodo's age, since they apparently raised plenty of livestock. And except for the odd Bounder, I would guess that most hobbits practiced archery more as a sport then as a weapon of war. Same with quarterstaffs, horseracing, keeping hounds, etc. Hmmmm, I wonder if hobbits kept hawks?

I also found a website that said football originated in the Middle Ages, when it was called "Gameball". Basically you just tossed the ball in the air and whatever team got it to their side won, no holds barred.

Ninepins might be a possibility in the Shire, and maybe a form of croquet. Other than that, I can't think of too many organized, team sports, as we think of sports these days, would have been played in the Shire, or anywhere else in Middle Earth.

08-12-2002, 05:13 PM	#9
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Since the hobbits had evolved from a hunting/gathering "wandering" people, to a more agrarian society, I image that many of their sports probably involved what once were survival tactics. I imagine that hunting was done more for sport in the Shire of Frodo's age, since they apparently raised plenty of livestock. And except for the odd Bounder, I would guess that most hobbits practiced archery more as a sport then as a weapon of war. Same with quarterstaffs, horseracing, keeping hounds, etc. Hmmmm, I wonder if hobbits kept hawks? I also found a website that said football originated in the Middle Ages, when it was called "Gameball". Basically you just tossed the ball in the air and whatever team got it to their side won, no holds barred. Ninepins might be a possibility in the Shire, and maybe a form of croquet. Other than that, I can't think of too many organized, team sports, as we think of sports these days, would have been played in the Shire, or anywhere else in Middle Earth.