Comparing Wrestling in Ancient Olympics and Modern Olympics Assignment Sample

• Subject Name : Arts and Humanities

Introduction to Wrestling

Wrestling is one of the oldest forms of combat. It is so old that it has been found to have been depicted in cave drawings in France as old as 15000 years (Athnet, n,d.). The origin of wrestling stems from Greece where it was initially developed to train soldiers in face-to-face and hand-to-hand combat. However, after defeating Greece, Rome borrowed the concept of wrestling but eliminated much of its brutal aspects. In fear of the true essence of wrestling being lost, there began the Greco-Roman wrestling. Wrestling was very popular in the royal houses of the Middle. The royal houses of England, France, and Japan were very fond of the sport. The American settlers from England brought the sport with them were Native American tribes were already familiar with the sport. During the years of early development in America, wrestling grew popular and made appearances at holiday celebrations, fairs, carnivals, and military exercises. Apart from athletics, wrestling has been widely recognized as the oldest sport of all time.Although wrestling was introduced as an Olypic sport in 708 BC, cave drawings of wresters have been found to date as far back as 3000 BC (Olympic, 2020).

Ancient Olympic Wrestling vs. Modern Olympic Wrestling

Wrestlers wrestling in Ancient Olympic were among the most popular as wrestling was the most widely practice sport in the Ancient Olympics. Ancient wrestling constituted of much arduous activities such as carry live bulls around the very vast stadium, popping the veins on their forehead, etc. Additionally, Ancient Olympics had only two primary rules which forbade biting and attacking the genitals. Incidents such as broken bones were a regular occurrence especially in times when wrestlers could attempt to escape a hold or grip. There were also two disciplines within Ancient wrestling wherein wrestlers would have to consent to one of them. This was ‘upright wrestling’ and ‘rolling’ or ‘ground’ wrestling. Upright wrestling was conducted in a sandy pit where the winning wrestler was one who would throw the losing wrestler n the other side of the ground three times. Rolling or ground wrestling was only declared over when one wrestler was declared painfully exhausted and would have no power or resistance left and signals his defeat by raising a hand extending one or two fingers.

Wrestling was included in the program when Modern Olympic Games were revived in 1896 (Sayenga, n.d.). Including wresting back in Modern Olympics was largely due to the importance the sport held in Ancient Hellenic Games since it is a hand-to-hand fighting sports. However, changes to the rules have been made from Ancient Olympics wrestling to Modern Olympic wrestling. The is a key difference in the actual acknowledgement of the greater advantage larger men have when it comes to hand-in-hand wrestling. This fact was often overlooked in Ancient times, To bring forth a sense of fairness for both wrestlers, modern Olympics wrestling has devised extensive screening and weight classifications to ensure competitors are of the same level or same category. Additionally, ancient wresting games comprised of only 6 championships for sports which were hand-in-hand and this did not have any weight classification. Among these six, three were for boys and three for men. Contrary to this, Modern Olympics consists of 46 gold medals which are given in hand-in-hand fighting sports.

When it comes to hand-in-hand sports, competitors are given the freedom to wound or injure each other to an extent where one can become physically disabled. This use of power was much recognized and put into practice in Ancient Olympics. However, Modern Olympics restricts this power and aims to control the amount of violence by introducing rules which are to be followed during the course of the game. Additionally, another stark difference between Ancient Olympics and Modern Olympics is time limitation. Since there were no clocks and watches in ancient times, wrestling matches had no lime limitations. Ancient Olympians believed that not having any time limit displayed the wrestler’s resistance and willingness to go on wresting for an indefinite period of time (until he is exhausted and physically accepts defeat). Hence, not having any time constraints played an important role in the game wrestling in Ancient Olympics. Modern Olympics, however, has imposed multiple time constraints in an attempt to amplify the number of possible games/contents. This eliminates the possibility to judge winners arbitrarily and hence posing a huge dissatisfaction on the wrestlers by taking away the decision from the wrestlers from themselves.

Another key difference between the ancient Olympic wrestling and modern Olympic wrestling is that the ancient one was only for males. Ancient Olympics was help only for big and strong men as wrestling was seen as a masculine sport. This is different in Modern Olympic wrestling which now has women wrestling as well. Die to the feminist movements and an attempt to be inclusive of all genders, modern Olympics wrestling have female wrestlers too such as Yoshida Saori, SusukiYui, Maroulis Helen, etc. Commentators would see this change as an attempt to be more inclusive in sports. It is often said that sports is heavily underrepresents women and so in an attempt to include female talents in the wrestling field, modern Olympic wrestling has developed a female championship wing as well. This is primarily to cater to the needs of the modern day audience. In Ancient times, women were not allowed to participate in wresting due to the feminine characteristics attached to the female figure. Moreover, women were not even allowed to view or watch these wrestling matches. However, this is no longer the case with modern Olympics.

Unlike ancient wrestling matches which took place in large stadiums, the setting has rather changed and developed in modern Olympics. Additionally, various other styles have been introduced in modern Olympic wrestling such as Freestyle wrestling which is also very commonly known now as ‘catch as catch can’. This style has far less a history than the traditional Greco-Roman styles or did not have great popularity in the beginning (Olymics, n.d.). The catch as catch can wrestling style permits all holds and tactics to be used by wrestles during their wrestle. The only rule applicable to this type of wrestling is forbidding any type of move which may injure the opponent such as strangling, kicking, hitting, biting, etc. Apart from the freestyle or catch as catch can style, there exists the Greco-Roman style which is also common in Modern Olympic wrestling. Although the name may suggest having roots in ancient time, this style began in early 19th century France in an effort to incorporate original or ancient rules into the wrestling sport. The key difference between these two styles is that the Greco-Roman style forbids any holds below the waist whereas the freestyle allows the use of the legs both defensively as well as offensively.

Furthermore, it is important to remember that Ancient Olympics wrestling would take place as a religious festival to honor Zeus who was the chief deity of the pantheon (the Greek God of the sky and the weather and also known to be identical to the Roman God Jupiter). Zeus was considered the most important of all Olymic Gods (Olymics, 2020). It is in an attempt to honor him that ancient Olympic wrestlers could sacrifice animals. However, this religious connotation no longer exists in modern Olympics. Modern Olympics is purely for the love and enjoyment of the game and the audience who believe in it. It is for this reason that multiple rules have been applied to prevent injuries of opponents during a wrestling game. Also, there existed a special style of wrestling which consisted of element of boxing and wrestling combined. This style was known as the Pankration wherein almost any tactic was allowed apart from attacking the yes and biting. However, this no longer exists in modern Olympics and a mix may most likely be forbidden in the long list of rules imposed on the sport today.

Interpretation of Historical Changes

As already established above, historical or ancient Olympic wrestling had a special purpose. The game was especially deigned to honor the most important God of the Olympics – Zeus. Historians would frown upon the Modern Olympic changes due to the mere lack of significance and loss of traditional meaning and the original sanctity of the game also being lost in history. These historian changes have been made to fit the modern audience and modern day purpose. With the introduction of multiple rules where no harm should be caused to the opponent, let alone maim him/her like ancient wrestlers used to due, defeats the traditional meaning of it. Traditionally, in Ancient Olympics, each act had a significance, and sacrificing things was seen as a symbol in honor of the Gods (Zeus, in the case of wrestling).

The introduction of women into Olympics may be subject to much criticism as well by historians. However, modern day critiques and Feminists may speak in favor of it. There has been a rapid and dramatic increase in the participation and involvement of women in modern Olympic wrestling. The participation of women in wrestling was strictly prohibited in Ancient Olympics as it was not deemed appropriate for women in those conservative times. The first women’s wresting match was organized in the 1987 Olympic Games with merely 8 participating countries. Since then, the sport has grown to be recognized in over 100 countries (Curby & Jomad, 2015). Although tribal women wrestling existed among other countries and its indigenous people, Ancient Olympics did not recognize women as being potential participants in the sport.

Other key aspect to gain much criticism is the having a time limitation on games. In Modern Olympics, each wrestling match is time bound whereas tis factor did not exist in the ancient Olympics. The reason behind this according to Ancient Olympians was to check the durability and intention of the wrestler. Many would not even bother to participate since they knew that the match did not have a time limit and thus they ran a higher risk of being harmed for an indefinite period of time. This element played a role in sifting the determined and headstrong wrestlers from the weaker ones. Hence, imposing a time limit on matches in Modern Olympics defeats the purpose of automatic sifting of wrestlers where only those who are truly capable and truly strong both physically and mentally can participate. Also, since not having a time limit on wrestling matches in determines the psychological and mental strength of the participants, having a limitation invites even those with weaker will and who are less headstrong and this not only questions the entire construct of wrestling but also allows the ‘weaker’ ones to participate and essentially waste time.

Conclusion on Comparing Wrestling in Ancient Olympics and Modern Olympics

Just as many things have changed since the ancient times , so has the nature and outlook of the Olympic Games. Hands-on sports such as wrestling were primary entertained to honor the most important Olympic god- Zeus. In the AncientOlympic game of wrestling, there were hardly any rules, so much so that participants were even allowed to main each other. Additionally, wrestlers of the time would take up grave activities such as lifting a live bull or popping their own veins of their forehead. Part from hat, Olympics ages in ancient times were strictly for men and women were not allowed to participate. However, much of this has changed drastically in Modern Olympics. Wresting is no longer done to honor Zeus but rather simply for the spirit of the game. Moreover, women has been encouraged and allowed to participate in these games now. Also, much of the rules of the game have also changed such a time limitations, weight classification of participants, etc.

References for Comparing Wrestling in Ancient Olympics and Modern Olympics

Athnet.(n.d.).The origins of wrestling – Facts and information about the sport. Retrieved from https://www.athleticscholarships.net/history-of-wrestling.htm

Curby, D. G., &Jomand, G. (2015). The evolution of women’s wrestling: History, issues and future. International Journal of Wrestling Science, 5(1), 2–12.

Olympic.(2020). History.Retrieved from https://www.olympic.org/wrestling-freestyle-equipment-and-history#:~:text=The%20oldest%20sport,the%20Games'%20recorded%20history%20began. Olympics.(2020). Mythology. Retrieved from https://www.olympic.org/ancient-olympic-games/mythology

Sayenga, D. (n.d.). Then problem of wrestling “styles” in the modern Olympic games – A failure of Olympic philosophy. Retrieved from http://isoh.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/95.pdf

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