WRESTLING IN WAR

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14066, 13 February 1939, Page 2

WRESTLING IN WAR

FEATS OF ANCIENT GREEK,S

Historians say that wrestling and the pane-ration (an ancient mixture of boxing and wrestling, similar to the all-in modern wrestling) wore invented for their utility in war. For proof they point tlie fear of arms That wrestling and the pane-ration were invented for their utility in war is proved, in the first place* by the feat of arms at Marathon, which was

.so performed by the Athenians that it seemed like a wrestling match ; an! secondly, at Thermopylae, where the Lacedaemonians fought often with their bare hands, wnen their swords and lances were broken. And of all the contests which were customary, the pane-ration was pre-eminent, although. it was composed of imperfect wrestling and imperfect boxing. It is mentioned that boxing was invented by the Lacedaemonians. They boxed because they had no helmets, and they ronsidered that fighting with such was not according to the- customs of the country ; but the shield took the place of the helmet if one understood how to carry it. In order, then, to parry blows, directed -at the face, and’when they came 10 withstand them, they practised boxing and sought, in ~ this manner, to harden the face. FITNESS FOR DEFENCE, GRECIAN EXERCISES Clironcles of ancient Greece state that the Lacedaemonians demanded that the gymnasts should have a knowledge of tactics, because they recognised in the contests a preliminary training for war _• and this hs not surprising since the Lacedaemonians constantly associated even the dance, the most carefree amusement of peace times, with war. for they danced in such a manner, as if to evade or throw a missle, leap up from the ground and manipulate the shield cleverly. FILLIP OF LOVE A WRESTLER-BOXER'S TRIUMPH rll the clays ol ancient Greece a gymnast, who was training Promaohos, a famous pancratiast 'a kind of wrestler-boxer) thought of a ruse to stimulate the champion. When the time for the Olympian Games drew near the trainer said to the champion : T believe Promachos fliou art in love.’’ And when he saw that the boxer blushed, lie continued “Not in order to plague thee have | asked tins, but t-o be helpful to thee in tiiv ■ ove affair. For, perhaps I shall even put in a good word for thee with the maiden.” And, without having spoken with her, he came to the athlete and brought him an untrue but tor the love-lorn youth, exceedinglv precious answer. He said: “She wiil not refuse thee her love, if thou compioresf at Olympia,’' And Pronmclios took courage from what he had heard, and was not only victorious, >ut even defeated Piilycianias from Skotussa. even after the adventure with the lions, which Fulyclamas had captured at tlie court of Oc-hos. the