Which Came First Bocce or Pétanque?

Which Came First Bocce Or Petanque featured photo

Bocce and pétanque have both amassed millions of fans from around the world. For people who don’t know the games enough, they may seem like one and the same but they’re actually not. People who want to know the difference may start by asking which came first, bocce or pétanque?

Bocce was invented and introduced earlier, specifically from as early as 5200 BC Ancient Egypt when a painting of two boys playing the game was discovered in an Egyptian tomb. Pétanque wasn’t invented and introduced to the world until 1907 by a local French cafe owner.

Of course, the differences (and similarities) between bocce and pétanque don’t only lie on when they were invented. Gameplay, rules, and regulations can both be similar and different between the two games.a 

Which Came First: Bocce or Petanque?

Bocce and pétanque are ball games and sports that fall under the same category of the boules sports family. Other games that fall under the same category include boule lyonnaise, lawn bowls, and raffa.

If you’re a big fan of these boules games, then you are more than familiar with how the terms ‘bocce’ and ‘pétanque’ are oftentimes used interchangeably. While some people will say that bocce and pétanque are practically the same, it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Let’s start by laying down the two game’s differences from which of them came into existence first:

The origins of bocce

Bocce’s history dates back several hundreds of years, all the way back to 5200 BC Ancient Egypt when a painting of two boys playing the game was discovered in an Egyptian tomb. This discovery by English scientist, Sir Francis Petrial, is believed to be the first documentation of the game.

From there, the game made its way around Greece, the Middle East, and Asia, and eventually passed on to the Romans.

Greek colonists brought the game to modern Italy, gaining widespread popularity across Europe. By the mid-1800s, Italy established bocce as its official sport.

After further developments in gameplay and rules, bocce has since spread, gaining millions of players and fans around the world.

In 1946, the Fédération Internationale de Boules (FIB) was established. It is the highest regulating body of bocce.

The origins of pétanque

Pétanque is one of the most beloved European boules games and in its current and modern form, originated in La Ciotat, Provence in southern France in 1907. Ernest Pitiot, who owned a local cafe, invented the French boule game of pétanque. He did so because of a friend, Jules Lenoir (a French boule lyonnaise player), whose health condition didn’t allow him to run before tossing the ball. 

By 1910, Ernest and his brother Joseph Pitiot, organized the first pétanque with developments and changes in rules and gameplay. Since then, the game has gained widespread popularity and love in France. It then spread all throughout Europe and then around the world, gaining millions of players and fans as well.

In 1958, Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal (FIPJP), the international governing body of pétanque was established.

So which came first?

From the history of the two sports, we can say that bocce came first before pétanque. Bocce’s earliest records date back to 5200 BC Ancient Egypt while pétanque wasn’t invented and introduced to the world until 1907.

Petanque and Bocce Ball: The Similarities

  • Both bocce and pétanque are under the boules games category.
  • Both games need two players or two teams to get a game started.
  • Both games have the same objective: get your team’s balls closer to the pallino, jack, or target ball than the opposing team.
  • Both petanque and bocce games use a traditional underarm throw.
  • It may seem like on the surface, but both bocce and pétanque are more than just throwing and tossing your ball into the field. While it may be a huge part of the game, several techniques and methods can also be used by players to make the game more interesting.

Bocce Ball vs Pétanque: The Differences

  • Petanque boules are smaller at 73mm in diameter while bocce balls are typically 107mm in diameter, making them bigger. A petanque boule is also often made out of steel and are hollow while bocce balls are often colorful and are solid.
  • In bocce, players can take a few steps into the playing field before throwing their balls. But in pétanque, players must toss their petanque balls with their feet planted on the ground.
  • Bocce is better played on flat bocce court surfaces or any surface as long as it’s flat. Playing petanque can be on almost any terrain even if there are obstacles on the field, especially for a more casual play.
  • Bocce courts are typically 90 feet by 13 feet while petanque courts are 13 feet by 50 feet.

Conclusion

Bocce and pétanque are both popular ball games under the boules sports category. While both games may seem the same on the surface, there are differences between the two games. One of the few things players like to know is which came first, bocce or pétanque?

Looking back at the history of both games, bocce came first before pétanque. Bocce’s earliest documentation dates back to 5200 BC Ancient Egypt. Meanwhile, pétanque originated in France in 1907 after a local cafe owner invented the game for a friend with a bad case of rheumatism.

Of course, the differences between bocce and pétanque don’t end there. Rules, standards, and gameplay also differ in bocce and pétanque.

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