... every four years as a result of a peace agreement between the city-states of Elis and Pisa. The Eleans traced the founding of the Olympic games to their King Iphitos, who was told by the Delphic Oracle to plant the olive tree from which the victors' wreaths were cut. The Games always occurred at the height of the summer, after the harvest was eaten so they could then relax in celebration and the Games. In this coursework I am going to discuss combat sports in ancient times. There were several combat sports, and were very different from modern versions. The rules were less strict in these times, and more violence was permitted. The sports, which I am going to study, are boxing, pankration and wrestling. The pankration was a type of "anything goes" fighting, where the only moves disallowed were gouging or biting. It was made more vicious by the ...

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