HEAD TO HEAD
Calcio Storico vs Harpastum
16th century
ERA
Ancient Rome
Florence, Italy
ORIGIN
Greece / Rome
54 total (27 per side)
PLAYERS
5–12 per side
Ball, sand pitch
EQUIPMENT
Hard leather ball
80 × 40 m sand pit
PLAYING AREA
Rectangular pitch
50 minutes
DURATION
unknown
Comune di Firenze
GOVERNING BODY
None
No
OLYMPIC
No
Different Similar
CALCIO STORICO IN ONE LINE
Calcio Storico is a traditional Italian combination of football, rugby, and combat sports originating in 16th-century Florence. Two teams of 27 players compete on a sand field to score goals while engaging in full-contact hand-to-hand combat.
HARPASTUM IN ONE LINE
Harpastum was a violent team ball game played in the ancient Roman Empire, adapted from the Greek game episkyros. Players used passing, tackling, and feints to keep a small, hard ball on their side of a rectangular court.