Identifier: greekathleticspo00gard (find matches)
Title: Greek athletic sports and festivals
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Gardiner, E. Norman (Edward Norman), 1864-1930
Subjects: Athletics Sports Olympics Fasts and feasts
Publisher: London : Macmillan and Co.
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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or oval spaces. The examples given in Fig. 162from gems in the British Museum explain themselves. The most important and interesting of all the monumentsconnected with the pankration is the group of wrestlers in theUfhzi gallery in Florence (Fig. 163). Unfortunately, it isconsiderably restored, but in spite of recent criticism thereseems to be no reason for doubting the general correctness of ^ Lucian, AnacJuirs, 31. ^ From Lucians Asinus we gather that knee wrestling (ra diro yovaTwv)was systematically taught in the palaestra. Cp. Aristoph. Pax, 895.3 Legg. 795, 834. ^ Nem. iii. 29 ; Isthm. v. 60. XX THE PANKRATION—GROUND WRESTLING 449 the restoration.^ The underneath wrestler supports himself onhis left arm, and his opponents immediate object is to breakdown this support. This can be effected by a blow. For theunderneath wrestlers right arm being secured, he can only-guard his head with his left. The situation can be illustratedby the description in Heliodorus of the match between
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Fig. I(j3.—Group of pankratiasts. Uffizi Palace, Florence.(From a photograph by Brogi.) Theagenes and the Aethiopian champion.^ Theagenes forcesthe latter on to his knees, twines his legs round him, and thenknocks aw^y his wrists, with which he is keeping his chestoff the ground. Having broken down this support, he forceshim down on his stomach on the ground. While a wrestler1 J.H.S. XXV. 30, xxvi. 19. 2 ^4^^;^^ x. 31, 32. 2g 450 GREEK ATHLETIC SPORTS AND FESTIVALS ch. xx is supporting himself on his hands and knees, his position isfar from hopeless, and he may by a quick and vigorousmovement often overturn his adversary and reverse matters.Such is the moment selected by the sculptor; the victory isstill undecided, the uppermost wrestler is anxious to makesure of victory, the other is eagerly watching to take advantageof any carelessness on his opponents part. How fatal anysuch carelessness may be we learn from the story of Arrhichion.^Arrhichion was being strangled by his opponent,

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