Definition of
arena
A Greek word that can be translated as “struggle” became, in Latin, palaestra. To our languagethe concept came as arena and is used to name the site where, in ancient times, battles took place.
The arena, therefore, was the space where they were taught to fight and combats were held. It could be part of a gym or function independently, depending on the case.
One of the best known arenas is the one that exists in Pompeii. In this, the students acquired fighting techniques, developed their skills and learned everything they needed to be able to fight with a rival. It must be said that even what was his central nucleus was filled with water with the clear objective of making his training very complete.
However, we cannot forget other well-known lectures throughout history. This was the case of Delphi and Olympia.
In Spain, specifically in the province of Cuenca, the remains of a palaestra have also been preserved. Specifically, it is located in the Archaeological Park of Segóbriga, which is classified as a National Monument and also as an Asset of Cultural Interest. It is located on the well-known Cerro de Cabeza de Griego.
Over time, the arenas increased their benefits and, in addition to fights, they began to host other activities. The discussions of philosophy and art they became frequent, as did lectures and music.
By extension, the notion of palaestra began to be used as a synonym for public discussion. In this way, the expressions became popular “come to the fore”, “to be in the arena” and “jump to the fore”.
For example: “The minister’s mistress got tired of being ostracized and came to the fore” is a phrase that indicates that a womenwho maintains a clandestine sentimental relationship with a minister, decided to publicly report said link.
“The singer has been in the spotlight since he confessed his addiction to drugs”on the other hand, is an expression that mentions the permanent presence of an artist in public opinion after his confession about problems with narcotics.
“The young Uruguayan tennis player came to the fore two years ago, when he defeated the number one in the world”Finally, it is a phrase that comments on the popularity an athlete from Uruguay gained after achieving a resounding victory.
Hence, verbal locutions such as “jump to the fore” have emerged over time. This is used to indicate that a person is actively participating either in a competition or in a public discussion.
In schools, the expression “go out to the fore” is also used. Specifically, it is used by the teacher to ask one of his students to go to the blackboard, either because he is going to be asked the lesson or because he will have to develop an exercise on it. Thus, a clear example of this is the following: “Manuel come out to the fore. Let’s see if you’ve studied this week’s topic”.