04/25/24
March 27, 2003
The Ancient Game of Baseball:: Is seker-hemat baseball? An Egyptologist suggests that Thutmose III, ruler of Egypt during the 15th century B.C, can be seen holding a ball and bat on a wall relief at the shrine of Hathor. The hieroglyphic over the scene reads: "Batting the ball for Hathor, who is foremost in Thebes." The date is circa 1475 B.C. Is baseball the oldest sport? Well, unless someone can show me a Pharaoh kicking a ball into a goal-like contraption, I'll have to say that baseball wins.
LOL@wc2k2! Bonds rules, pitchers quake in their nikes!
posted by billsaysthis at 11:07 AM on March 27, 2003
posted by BigCalm at 01:00 PM on March 27, 2003
Wow, if ol' Joe played footie (and how can you deny the evidence based on the above image), then soccer certainly did rule the ancient world (at least until Joseph died).
posted by jacknose at 01:16 PM on March 27, 2003
The new york times (regd reqd) has a picture of the heiroglyph.
posted by BigCalm at 09:26 AM on March 28, 2003
That is a very thin bat. I would call it a stick.
posted by worldcup2002 at 09:55 AM on March 28, 2003
It is nice to know that the tradition of seker-hemat has been passed through the ages. Apparently, the Devil Rays have been using the same bats as the pharaoh.
posted by wfrazerjr at 04:28 PM on March 31, 2003
I think the hieroglyphic reads: "Barrybondshuptep, who is foremost in the Bay of Isis, waiting to be walked again."