Fighters

Two “pancratium” fighters depicted in the center of a kylix—a drinking cup with two horizontal handles.

Pancratium was a combat event that was a combination of wrestling, boxing, and all out aggression.

On this kylix the upright athlete is beating his downed opponent.  The downed opponent has raised a finger on his right hand indicating his submission to his opponent.

This is probably “pancratium,” for the two athletes are not wearing leather strips—as boxers would—nor are they in any type of wresting hold.  Pancratium was introduced as an Olympic event in 648 B.C.

Found at Olympia.