Window into the Bible
Wrestling and Boxing
Scroll down the page for further information about each image. Click on each image to bring up a full sized picture (some of the images on this page are cropped). You can right click on each image and save using 'save background as'.








Cup (Kylix) showing Wrestlers and Trainers
Date: 490 – 480 BC Place: Athens, Greece
Photographed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts USA.
|
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8



Bronze Bowl with Wrestlers
Date: 520 – 480 BC
Place: probably Picene district, Italy
Photographed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts USA.
This type of shallow bowl was used to wash feet before a banquet or in athletic training grounds.
Use slider to see close up image.


Marble Relief showing Athletes
Date: 510 BC Place: Athens, Greece
Photographed at the National Archeological Museum of Athens, Athens, Greece.
This relief was from the base of a funerary kouros. It shows two wrestlers in action. At the left is an athlete ready to jump and at the right a person preparing the pit. |


Panathenaic Prize Amphora Depicting Wrestling and Boxing
Date: 332-331 BC. Place: Capua, Italy
Photographed at the British Museum, London, England.
|
Two athletes compete in the pankration which is a mixture of wrestling and boxing. The trainer, wearing a cloak, steps in to prevent a foul.


Panathenaic Prize Amphora Signed by the Potter Kittos Depicting Wrestling and Boxing
Date: 367/6 BC. Place: Tocra, Libya
Photographed at the British Museum, London, England.
|
“Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.” 1 Corinthians 9:26


Wall Painting of Children Boxing
Date: 1650 -1500 BC Place: Akrotiri, Thera [Santorini]
Photographed at the National Archeological Museum of Athens, Athens, Greece.
This shows two naked children wearing belts and boxing gloves. |




Boxer Date: 2nd – 1st century BC Place: From Greece, found in Rome
Photographed at the National Museum of Rome, Rome, Italy.
A comment from archaeologist who discovered this: “ . . . I have witnessed, in my long career in the active field of archaeology, many discoveries; I have experienced surprise after surprise; I have sometimes and most unexpectedly met with real masterpieces; but I have never felt such an extraordinary impression as the one created by the sight of this magnificent specimen of a semi-barbaric athlete, coming slowly out of the ground, as if awakening from a long repose after his gallant fights.” (Rodolfo Lanciani, Ancient Rome, London, 1888.) |