Greek sport of antiquity antecedent of football or perhaps better of rugby because the hands could also be used. They also called it phaininda and some trace their practice back to 2. 000 to . C . There are graphic testimonies in some ceramic and bas-reliefs and of course the literary ones. It was practiced a lot in Sparta encouraging teamwork. The ball may have been a swollen pig's bladder lined with leather or rags.