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Ancient Greek bo xing

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Ancient Greek bo xing
Boxer at Rest
bronze sculpture,dated variously from 300 to 50 BC
Also known asAncient Olympicbo xing
FocusStriking
HardnessFull contact
Country of originGreece
Descendant artsBo xing
Olympic sportAncient

Ancient Greek bo xing(Greek:πυγμαχίαpygmachia,"fist fighting" ) dates back to at least the 8th century BC (Homer'sIliad), and was practiced in a variety of social contexts in different Greek city-states. Most extant sources about ancient Greekbo xingare fragmentary or legendary, making it difficult to reconstruct the rules, customs and history surrounding this activity in great detail. Still, it is clear that gloved bo xing bouts were a significant part of ancient Greek athletic culture throughout the early classical period.

Origins

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Minoanyouths bo xing ca. 1500 BC, the earliest evidence for the use of gloves (Akrotiri fresco)

There is archeological and artistic evidence of ancient Greek bo xing (πύξ-pyx[1]orπυγμή-pygme[2]inΑncient Greek) as early as theMinoanandMycenaeanperiods. There are numerous legends about the origins of bo xing inGreece.One legend holds that the heroic rulerTheseusinvented a form of bo xing in which two men sat face to face and beat each other with their fists until one of them was killed. In time, the boxers began to fight while standing and wearing gloves (with spikes) and wrappings on their arms below the elbows, but otherwise they fought naked.

According to theIliad,Mycenaean warriors included bo xing among their competitions honoring the fallen, though it is possible that the Homeric epics reflect later Greek culture. Bo xing was among the contests held in memorial ofAchilles' slain friendPatroclus,toward the end of theTrojan war.It was in commemoration of Patroclus that the Greeks later introduced bo xing (pygme / pygmachia) to theOlympic Gamesin 688 BC. Participants trained on punching bags (called akorykos). Fighters wore leather straps (called himantes) over their hands (leaving the fingers free), wrists, and sometimes breast, to protect themselves from injury. There was no protection for the face or head, meaning Greek bo xing was quite dangerous compared to modern day bo xing. Women were prohibited to watch games, especially bo xing.

The scholar and historianPhilostratusmaintained that bo xing was originally developed inSparta.The early Spartans believed helmets were unnecessary and bo xing prepared them for the inevitable blows to the head they would receive in battle.[3]However, Spartans never participated in the competitive aspect of bo xing, believing the means of defeat to be dishonorable.[4]

Equipment

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Further information:Cestus (bo xing )
Young boxer binding his hands in leather strips, amidpalaestraequipment (tondoof akylix,late 6th–early 5th century BC)
The mythological boxerPolluxusing a punching bag, detail from anEtruscancista,340–330 BC

The style of protection utilized on the hands and knuckles could determine the style of fighting for the competitors. From the time of theIliaduntil around 500 BC, himantes were used as protection for the knuckles and hand. They were thongs of ox hide approximately 3.0–3.7 m (9.8–12.1 ft) long that were wrapped around the hands and knuckles numerous times. The thongs usually had loops in which an athlete could insert four of his fingers and clench them together in a fist. Generally, this was the only form of protection worn by participants from the era of Homer until the end of the fifth century. Classical sources describe these as "soft gloves", though modern study has indicated that these thongs were far from soft and were protection for the knuckles, not to soften the blow to the opponent, much like modern padded gloves, which protect the hand, allowing for harder punches. They can be found on many vases excavated from the fifth and sixth century BC.[5]

In around 400 BC sphairai were introduced. The sphairai were very similar to himantes. The only notable difference was that they contained a padded interior when wrapped around the hands and the exterior of the thong was notably more rigid and hard. In addition, "sharp thongs" were introduced during this time period to facilitate greater damage and remained popular up until around 200 AD.[5][6]

Soon before the implementation of the sphairai, theoxyswere introduced to bo xing. They consisted of several thick leather bands encircling the hand, wrist, and forearm. A band of fleece was placed on the forearm to wipe away sweat. Leather braces extended up the forearm to give greater support when punching and the knuckles were reinforced with leather as well.[7]

Korykos were the equivalent to modern punching bags. They were used for practice in thePalaestraand were filled with sand, flour, ormillet.They were commonly depicted in art depicting bo xing of the time.[5]

Left arm from a statue of a young boxer, late 2nd BC (National Archaeological Museum, Athens)

Rules and characteristics

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The right boxer signals giving up by raising his finger high (ca. 500 BC).

The currently accepted rules of ancient Greek bo xing are based on historical references and images. Although there is some evidence of kicks in ancient Greek bo xing,[8][9][10]this is the subject of debate among scholars.[11][12]Because of the few intact sources and references to the sport, the rules can only be inferred.[13]

  • No holds or wrestling
  • Any type of blow with the hand was allowed but no gouging with the fingers
  • No ring was used
  • There were no rounds or time limits
  • Victory was decided when one fighter gave up or was incapacitated
  • No weight-classes, opponents were selected by chance
  • Judges enforced the rules by beating offenders with a switch or whip
  • Fighters could opt to exchange blows undefended if the fight lasted too long
Boxers on a Panathenaic amphora (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Unlike modern bo xing, the Greeks did not enclose the competitors in a ring to encourage fighting in close quarters. Therefore, most boxers fought defensively as opposed to offensively to encourage patience and caution. In addition, bo xing in ancient Greece was not divided into individual rounds. Competitors fought until finish, usually by surrender or mutual exhaustion. Felled boxers could be attacked without consequence, just as if they were standing.[5]

The modern practice of dividing boxers into weight classes was an unheard of among the Greeks. Typically, any man who wished to participate in the event was welcome to regardless of strength or muscle mass, and participants competed with each other through random drawings.[5]

The precise rules of bo xing in antiquity cannot be known for certain, and are thus inferred from historical references and images. It is believed that any type of blow with the hand was permitted, though using the hands to gouge at the eyeballs was not. Holding or wrestling one's opponent was also prohibited. If the fight lasted too long due to the tenacity of the competitors, the athletes could choose to hit each other in turn without either man defending themselves, to speed up the process of a knockout or surrender. Judges probably enforced the rules by beating the offenders with a switch or a whip.[5]

  • Mycenaean boxers, 1300–1250 BC, on a krater fragment
    Mycenaeanboxers, 1300–1250 BC, on akraterfragment
  • Boxing or the pankration with gloves (latter 2nd–early 1st century BC)
    Bo xing or thepankrationwith gloves (latter 2nd–early 1st century BC)
  • Pugilists wearing sphere-style gloves, mosaic from Roman Africa (3rd century AD)
    Pugilists wearing sphere-style gloves, mosaic fromRoman Africa(3rd century AD)
  • Pugilists (possibly pankratists) wearing spiky caestūs, mosaic from Roman Trier (early to mid 4th century AD)
    Pugilists (possibly pankratists) wearing spikycaestūs,mosaic fromRoman Trier(early to mid 4th century AD)

Pugilatus

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Ancient Roman bo xing
Gallo-Roman bo xing mosaic (Getty Villa)
Also known asPugilatus
FocusStriking
HardnessFull contact
Country of originAncient Rome
ParenthoodGreek bo xing
Descendant artsBare-knuckle bo xing,Modern Bo xing
Olympic sportAncient (banned in 400 AD)

The form of bo xing in the Roman Empire was calledpugilatus,frompugnus,"fist" (Greekpygme). Greek influence came through theEtruscans.Bo xing was a very popular sport until it was banned around 400 CE byTheodoric the Greatbecause of its violence.[14]Evidence for Roman bo xing comes from ancient literature, sculpture, wall paintings, and mosaic.

Techniques and rulesets were similar to Greek bo xing:

  • weight classes were absent;
  • there was no time limit;
  • the boxer could hit his opponent even if he was on the floor;
  • the use of kicks in both forms is still debated.[15]

The following actions were violations:

  • gouging the eyes;
  • hitting the opponent below;
  • biting the opponent.[15]

The main difference between them were the gloves used: instead of theoxys,the Romans used thecaestus,gloves made with metal knuckles, that required sheepskin reinforcement that wrapped all the way up the shoulder. Several depictions ofcaestishow them armed with spikes or blades.[16]

Another main difference was the fighting position, in which the boxer stood upwards instead of bending himself.

The match ending was also changed, as tap outs weren't allowed in the beginning, but submissions were later added for safety measures.[17]One of the reasonspugilatuswas later banned was its brutality, as matches often ended with the death of one competitor. Boxers also suffered serious injuries, including bruises, concussions, brain damage, internal hemorrhages and broken bones.[16]

Ancient Olympic champions

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See also

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References

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  1. ^πύξ,Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott,A Greek-English Lexicon,on Perseus Digital Library
  2. ^πυγμή, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott,A Greek-English Lexicon,on Perseus Digital Library
  3. ^Swaddling, Judith. The Ancient Olympic Games. 2nd ed. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1999.
  4. ^Craig, Steve. Sports and Games of the Ancients. Sports and Games Through History Series. Series Advisor Andrew Leibs. Westport, Connecticut and London: Greenwood Press, 2002
  5. ^abcdefGardiner, Norman (1930).Athletics in the Ancient World.London: Oxford University Press. pp. Chapter XV.ISBN978-0486424866.
  6. ^Swaddling,op. cit.
  7. ^Miller, Stephen G.Ancient Greek Athletics. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2004.
  8. ^Potter, David (2012).The Victor's Crown: A History of Ancient Sport from Homer to Byzantium.ISBN978-0-19-984273-5.
  9. ^"Ancient Roman Bo xing".
  10. ^Pyx Lax (Kick-Punch) Kick Bo xing: Ancient Greek Martial Arts by Gregory ZorzosISBN9781441461476
  11. ^Crowther, Nigel B. (1990)."The Evidence for Kicking in Greek Bo xing".The American Journal of Philology.111(2): 176–181.doi:10.2307/294973.JSTOR294973.
  12. ^"Bo xing Gloves of the Ancient World".
  13. ^Craig, Swaddling, Miller,op. cit.
  14. ^"Bo xing In The Ancient Rome".
  15. ^ab"Bo xing In The Roman World".
  16. ^ab"Bo xing In The Roman Empire".
  17. ^"Bo xing In Rome".
  18. ^A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, Daetondas
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