This artwork depicts two Greek athletes intent on an unarmed fight known as Pankration. Pankration was a combat sport, introduced in ancient Greek, that combined techniques of both boxing and wrestling, as well as additional elements, such as the use of strikes with the legs. There is evidence that, although knockouts were common, most pankration competitions were decided on the basis of submission. In extreme cases a pankration competition could even result in the death of one of the opponents, which was considered a win for the surviving combatant.
