Pankration Research Paper

Pankration was the most violent event in the ancient athletic competition. Pankration comes from the Greek pan (all) and kratos (power), which translates to “all power” (Arvanitis). It is a combination of pyx (boxing) & pale orthe (wrestling). It is hard to determine precisely when Pankration was established as a historical phenomenon, but some believe it originated from the myth of Herakles and the Nemean Lion. It is believed that Herakles was the patron of pankration because when the skin of the lion he fought was impenetrable, therefore biting, gouging, and sharp weapons were useless; Herakles had to wrestle the lion and in the end, he strangled the lion to death (Miller). Nevertheless, we certainly know that Pankration was introduced into