In ancient Greece the sport was called helkustinda (Greek: ἑλκυστίνδα), efelkustinda (ἐφελκυστίνδα) and dielkustinda (διελκυστίνδα),[REF] which derives from dielkō (διέλκω), meaning amongst others "I pull through",[REF] all deriving from the verb helkō (ἕλκω), "I draw, I pull" [REF].
Archeological evidence shows that tug of war was also popular in India in the 12th century: .