23/4/2015 Ancient Greek boxing ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ancient_Greek_boxing&printable=yes 1/4

Ancient Greek Boxing

Boxer of Quirinal resting after contest (bronze sculpture,

BCE 300–200).

Also known as Ancient Olympic boxing

Focus Striking

Hardness Full contact

Country of origin Greece

Descendant arts Boxing

Olympic sport Ancient

Ancient Greek boxingFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ancient Greek boxing or pygmachia (Greek:πυγμαχία pygmachia, "fist fighting") dates back to atleast the eighth century BCE (Homer's Iliad), and waspracticed in a variety of social contexts in differentGreek city­states. Most extant sources about ancientGreek boxing are fragmentary or legendary, making itdifficult to reconstruct the rules, customs and historysurrounding this activity in great detail. Still, it is clearthat gloved boxing bouts were a significant part ofancient Greek athletic culture throughout the earlyclassical period.

Contents

1 Origins2 Equipment3 Rules4 Ancient Olympic Champions5 See also6 References7 External links

Origins

There is archeological and artistic evidence of ancientGreek boxing (πύξ ­ pux[1] or πυγμή ­ pugme[2] in Αncient Greek) as early as the Minoan and Mycenaeanperiods. There are numerous legends about the origins of boxing in Greece. One legend holds that theheroic ruler Theseus invented a form of boxing in which two men sat face to face and beat each otherwith their fists until one of them was killed. In time, the boxers began to fight while standing andwearing gloves (with spikes) and wrappings on their arms below the elbows, but otherwise they foughtnaked.

According to the Iliad, Mycenaean warriors included boxing among their competitions honoring thefallen, though it is possible that the Homeric epics reflect later Greek culture. Boxing was among thecontests held in memorial of Achilles' slain friend Patroclus, toward the end of the Trojan war. It was incommemoration of Patroclus that the Greeks later introduced boxing (pygme / pygmachia) to theOlympic Games in BCE 688. Participants trained on punching bags (called a korykos). Fighters woreleather 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.

23/4/2015 Ancient Greek boxing ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ancient_Greek_boxing&printable=yes 2/4

Minoan youthsboxing (BCE 1500),Knossos fresco.Earliest evidence foruse of gloves.

Detail of leather straps.

The right boxer signalsgiving up by raising hisfinger high (ca. BCE500).

The scholar and historian Philostratus maintained that boxing was originallydeveloped in Sparta. The early Spartans believed helmets were unnecessaryand boxing prepared them for the inevitable blows to the head they wouldreceive in battle.[3] However, Spartans never participated in the competitiveaspect of boxing, believing the means of defeat to be dishonorable.[4]

Equipment

Until around BCE 500 himantes wereused as protection for the knuckles andhand. They were thongs of ox hideapproximately 3 to 3.7 meters long thatwere wrapped around the hands andknuckles numerous times.

In around BCE 400 sphairai wereintroduced. The sphairai were verysimilar to himantes. The only notable

difference was that they contained a padded interior whenwrapped around the hands and the exterior of the thong was notably more rigid and hard.[5]

Soon before the implementation of the sphairai, the oxys were introduced to boxing. They consisted ofseveral thick leather bands encircling the hand, wrist, and forearm. A band of fleece was placed on theforearm to wipe away sweat. Leather braces extended up the forearm to give greater support whenpunching and the knuckles were reinforced with leather as well.[6]

Korykos were the equivalent to modern punching bags. They were used for practice in the Palaestra andwere filled with sand, flour, or millet.

Rules

The currently accepted rules of ancient Greek boxing are based on historicalreferences and images. Because of the few intact sources and references tothe sport, the rules can only be inferred.[7]

No holds or wrestlingAny type of blow with the hand was allowed but no gouging with thefingersNo ring was usedThere were no rounds or time limitsVictory was decided when one fighter gave up or was incapacitatedNo weight­classes, opponents were selected by chanceJudges enforced the rules by beating offenders with a switch or whipFighters could opt to exchange blows undefended if the fight lastedtoo long

23/4/2015 Ancient Greek boxing ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ancient_Greek_boxing&printable=yes 3/4

Ancient Olympic Champions

Diagoras of RhodesTheagenes of ThasosKleitomachos (athlete)MelankomasVarazdat of ArmeniaOnomastus of SmyrnaAgesarchus of TritaeaPythagoras (boxer)Glaucus of CarystusAurelios ZopyrosDamarchusAtyanasHorus (athlete)

See also

Pankration

References

1. πύξ (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dpu%2Fc1), Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, AGreek­English Lexicon, on Perseus Digital Library

2. πυγμή (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dpugmh%2F), Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, AGreek­English 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, 20025. Swaddling, op. cit.6. Miller, Stephen G. Ancient Greek Athletics. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2004.7. Craig, Swaddling, Miller, op. cit.

External links

Media related to Ancient Greek boxing at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ancient_Greek_boxing&oldid=646813882"

Categories: Ancient Olympic sports Historical European martial arts Combat sports

23/4/2015 Ancient Greek boxing ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ancient_Greek_boxing&printable=yes 4/4

This page was last modified on 12 February 2015, at 16:27.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution­ShareAlike License; additional termsmay apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is aregistered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non­profit organization.