The most perilous sport in history was practiced in ancient Egypt. It is still practiced today in some European countries… although in a milder version.
If you’ve ever watched the Olympic Games and thought that sports and athletes have become “softer,” then river jousting or fishermen‘s jousting is the sport for you. This sport originated in Egypt and was practiced approximately 5,000 years ago.
Like many other sports, such as football, for example, river jousting began as a means to settle disputes and rivalries between towns and fishermen.
Essentially, it involved two opposing sides boarding reed boats, facing each other while carrying spears with sharp points at both ends, with the aim of unseating their opponents from their boats.
The athletes didn’t wear any protective gear, and if the wounds inflicted by the spears weren’t enough, crocodiles and hippos awaited in the river to finish the job. Adding to the challenge, most participants didn’t know how to swim, making the prospect of “playing another game” even more daunting.
Our contemporary understanding of this sport comes from studying ancient Egyptian tomb reliefs. These depictions reveal that each boat carried a small group of men, each wielding a long stick. While most of the crew used their poles to maneuver the boat, some stood tall, using their poles to knock down opponents.
A critical question arises when studying these murals: were these water jousts intended as sporting events or displays of hostility? Although Egyptian reliefs depicting jousting fishermen don’t appear in contexts of war or battle, many of these depictions seem rather violent. This leads to the impression that the activity may have been more aggressive than mere entertainment.
However, some historians argue that these reliefs do not depict fishermen at all. This viewpoint is supported by Allen Guttmann, a professor at Amherst University and an expert in ancient sports, among others.
According to Guttmann, the most accurate term for this activity would be “water jousting,” rather than “fishermen’s jousting,” a term coined by German academics familiar with their traditional sport, Fischerstechen, also known as “fishermen’s jousting.”
Moreover, numerous countries have traditions similar to the ancient Egyptian practice. One notable example is the Ulmer Fischerstechen, a German adaptation mentioned by Guttmann, which was first organized in 1545 and has since been held every four years.
This competition features 16 duelists, each assuming the roles of various historical or fictional characters. Positioned on platforms at the stern of their boats, the duelists are propelled by three oarsmen rowing swiftly towards the opposing boat.
With only a brief window of opportunity, the duelists aim to strike their opponents, with blows limited to the chest; bending over results in disqualification.
Similar traditions thrive in southern France, particularly during the feast of Saint Louis, and at the Achendsee’r Fisherstechen in Austria. Additionally, enthusiasts can witness comparable events on the Limmat River in Switzerland.
Notably, the Achendsee’r Fisherstechen, which has been held since 1979, features categories for men, women, and children, ensuring a diverse participation.
