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If you could step into a time machine and go back 2,500 years to Ancient Greece, you might see Greeks in gymnasiums, working out with weights or practicing military or athletic skills.
While the gymnasium in Plato and Aristotle’s time may be somewhat similar to modern gyms, one important difference would be the floor surfacing. When Greek citizens slammed their heavy weights down or body-slammed an opponent, it was probably onto good, old Mother Earth.
However, one common comparison of a modern gym to an ancient one is the purpose for training. Eric Chaline, author of The Temple of Perfection: A History of the Gym, notes that the similarities are more about the motivation for training.