Trends Modern Art

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William-Adolphe Bouguereau, French, 1825 - 1905
Dante et Virgille en Enfer. Oil on canvas, 281 x 225 cm, Private collection

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Xlarge Original photo by MatthiasKabel
A bronze reproduction of a Roman marble after a 3rd c. BC Greek depiction of pankratiasts grappling and striking. This copy is from around year 1900 and can be found in Munich, in the Staatliche Antikensammlungen

Pankration means 'all powers'. In the ancient greek world a match was won by submission of the opponent or if the opponent was incapacitated. Joint locks and choke holds were common techniques. In fact, there were only two rules: contestants were not allowed to gouge eyes or to bite. Wikipedia