The Beginnings of Art & Wrestling
Lascaux Cave Art
Some anthropologists think that humans are “hard wired” to produce art. The gorgeous cave art images in Lascaux were created by the early humans (Homo sapiens) who edged out the Neanderthals in western Europe about 30,000 – 35,0000 years ago. However, it is thought that a few thick skulled and powerful Neanderthals still exist on some wrestling teams in B.C. Actually, the Neanderthal did not completely disappear, and most of us have a minor amount of Neanderthal DNA in our genetic codes. Weight training can make you powerful like the Neanderthals and improve your success in wrestling, but you should not start weight training until you first get some instruction from your wrestling coach or P.E teacher.
Fresco from ancient Akrotiri
This image is thought to be of young girls boxing. It is about 3,700 years old (i.e. about 1,700 B.C.) and it was found on ancient Akrotiri, which was on the Greek Island of Santorini. Akrotiri was destroyed by a gigantic volcanic eruption that occurred in about 1,600 B.C. That same eruption caused tidal waves that destroyed the Minoan culture which was centered on the island of Crete. That was where king Minos ruled. Some scholar think that King Minor was a Minoan, but others think he was actually a Greek, because the Greeks conquered the island of Crete. As educaated wrestler we don’t have dog in that fight, but we do care really care
Wall Painting from ancient Thera
Fresco from ancient Akrotiri
That same eruption caused tidal waves that destroyed the Minoan culture which was centered on the island of Crete. That was where king Minos ruled. Some scholars think that King Minor was a Minoan, but others think he was actually a Greek, because the Greeks conquered the island of Crete. As educated wrestlers you don’t have dog in that fight, but you should know that Crete was where the myths about Icarus flying to close to the sun and Theseus and the Minotaur came from.
The mosaic below was taken from Pompei, which was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. It is no fun having your city destroyed by a volcanic eruption, but it is a good way to preserve ancient art. It looks like Theseus is doin some kid of leg ride, and maybe he was also trying to sink a quarter Nelson….no, maybe not. What is clear is that Theseus won the battle and stopped the Minotaur from eating Athenian youths.
Greek Vase
Our favourite sport was part of the original Olympic Games in 776 B.C. There were no weight classes then, so the big guys had the advantage. In Homer’s Iliad (the story about the Trojan war) there were wrestling matches at the funeral games for both Patroclus and Achilles. The Trojan War was a real event that took place some time around 1250 B.C.
In the course of the Trojan war Patroclus, who was the best friend of Achilles (the Greek hero), borrowed the armor of Achilles and slaughtered many Trojans. Achilles himself refused to fight due to a huff over a woman. Hector, the son of the Trojan king Priam, killed Patroclus after Apollo blurred the vision of Patroclus and knocked his helmet off. In a fit of anger and revenge Achilles re-joined the war. He killed Hector and dragged Hector’s body behind his chariot around Troy and then back to the Greek ships. Apollo eventually killed Achilles with a poisoned arrow to the heel. Some versions of the story have Paris shooting the arrow. Paris was the lover of Helen of Troy (the most beautiful woman in the world), and he started the war by stealing Helen from the Greek king Menaleus. We all know who eventually won the Trojan war.
But back to Patroclus. After killing Hector, Achilles insisted on stopping the war to hold a proper funeral for Patroclus. It was customary to have games at such a funerals. Wrestling was naturally included. The final match was between Odysseus and Ajax, and they battled to a tie. Nowadays we have ties when we go to formal functions, and the educated wrestler may forge ties of friendship that last a lifetime, we but we don’t have ties in our wrestling matches. In many cases the person who scores the last point will win, so you should always be prepared to go as hard as you can near the end of a bout, even to the last few seconds.
The above vase was made about 2,500 years ago, in about 500 B.C. See the image on the vase. It appears that the wrestler on the right does not have a proper stance. To see comments and video on stance [click here].
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