Hysplex

The Hysplex (Greek ὕσπληγξ, originally " tight rope ") was used in ancient times in Greece, in order to ensure the simultaneous start of all runners of runners. It can similarly be viewed at the horse races as ancient variant of the start box.

The simple implementation of a Hysplex consisted of a vertical pole or board and a pole or another board that were hinged together. The rod was held horizontally by a rope or a rope that was attached to the short overhang of the bar. Resolved to the rope, the crossbar turned by their own weight in the joint down. The rope was passed over returns to a central point. Several Hysplexe were arranged side by side and the cables ran together at a referee. Each race participant stood behind one of these devices. The referee let go of the ropes at the same time and thus gave the starting blocks.

More elaborate Hysplexe consisted of two piles (Greek βαλβίς ), were arranged a beveled, grooved laterally before the start platform called Balbis. Before low timber doors were disposed which were pressed to the ground by the torsional force of two mutually twisted ropes forward. With a rope and ring the twisted ropes were held at the lateral rods, thus setting the gate vertically. If the ring pulled by a rope attached to it, the clamping force of the twisted ropes pushed the gate on the ground and the start was free. The mechanism works similarly to throw some guns. Due to the torsion force to the gate falling -off clearance was accelerated towards the opening by its own weight Hysplexen.

The Hysplex was introduced in order to guarantee a neutral starting instance for the runners. Before its introduction, the decision was a false start early or the referee. Also a disadvantage by an unclear start signal has been excluded.

Hysplex and Balbis were also used synonymously. Furthermore Balbis also refers to the release mark in discus and javelin.

The pure start and end markers are called frames ( γραμμή " line ", " line ").