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| Also known as | Ancient Olympic boxing |
|---|---|
| Focus | Striking |
| Hardness | Full contact |
| Country of origin | Greece |
| Descendant arts | Boxing |
| Olympic sport | Ancient |
Ancient Greek boxing (Greek: πυγμαχία pygmachia, "fist fighting") dates back to at least the 8th century BC (Homer's Iliad), and was practiced in a variety of social contexts in different Greek city-states. Most extant sources about ancient Greek boxing are fragmentary or legendary, making it difficult to reconstruct the rules, customs and history surrounding this activity in great detail. Still, it is clear that gloved boxing bouts were a significant part of ancient Greek athletic culture throughout the early classical period.