According to Greek traditions the heroes Heracles and HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theseus" \o "Theseus" Theseus invented pankration. Theseus used pankration to defeat the Minotaur in Cnossos. Heracles used Pankration against the lion of Nemea. Pankration has been practiced in Greece from the 2nd millennium BC.
Pankration was the product of the development of archaic Greek society of the 7th c. BC. As the need in violent sport increased, Pankration was a "total contest" that neither boxing or wrestling could give. Pankration is both HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing" \o "Boxing" boxing and HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrestling" \o "Wrestling" wrestling and even more, as the strikes with legs. It was introduced to the HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Olympic_Games" \o "Ancient Olympic Games" Olympic Games before 648 BC that is considered the official start of the Games.
The term Pankration comes from the greek ancient word “ΠΑΓΚΡΑΤΙΟΝ” (PAGRATION), from the word “ΠΑΝ” (PAN = the whole, the total) + the verbe ΚΡΑΤΩ (KRATO = to rule). That is: The one who rules.
Pankration was also called “ΠΑΜΜΑΧΟΝ» (PAMMACHON), from the word “ΠΑΝ” (PAN = the whole, the total) + and the word “MAXH” (MAHI = COMBAT). That is: The total combat.
Pankration is the first fighting system that was invented in HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_world" \o "History of the world" human history. Modern Pankration has many of the same methods that were used in the ancient Pankration, where knockouts were very common. The athletes were highly skilled grapplers and applied a variety of HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takedown_%28grappling%29" \o "Takedown (grappling)" takedowns, HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chokehold" \o "Chokehold" chokes and locks. Pankration was also part of the arsenal of Greek soldiers – including the famous HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparta" \o "Sparta" Spartan HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoplite" \o "Hoplite" hoplites and HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great" \o "Alexander the Great" Alexander the Great's HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_ancient_Macedon" \l "Phalanx" \o "Army of ancient Macedon" Macedonian phalanx. The victories of the ancient pankratiasts became a legend in ancient Greece. Arrhichion, HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dioxippus" \o "Dioxippus" Dioxippus, HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polydamas_of_Skotoussa" \o "Polydamas of Skotoussa" Polydamas of Skotoussa and Theagenis of Thassos are among the most highly-recognized names. Their accomplishments were of the most inspiring and served as inspiration to, for centuries. Pausanias, the ancient roman traveller and writer, refers to these stories:
-Dioxippus was an Athenian who won the Olympic Games in 336 BC, and was serving in Alexander the Great's army in its expedition in Asia. As an admired champion, he became part of the circle of HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great" \o "Alexander the Great" Alexander. He accepted a challenge from one of Alexander's most skilled soldiers named HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coragus" \o "Coragus" Coragus to fight in front of Alexander and the troops in armed combat. While Coragus fought with weapons and full armour, Dioxippus had only a club and defeated Coragus without killing him.
-The fighter HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arrhichion&action=edit&redlink=1" \o "Arrhichion (page does not exist)" Arrhichion won the Game, being dead. His opponent had locked him but Arrhichion broke his opponent's ankle. The opponent submitted due to pain. Then the referee raised Arrhichion's hand, who, meanwhile had died. His body was crowned with the olive tree and taken back to his city as a hero.
The Romans adopted Pankration into their Games. In 393 AD the pankration, along with gladiatorial combat and festivals, was abolished by the Christian Emperor HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodosius_I" \o "Theodosius I" Theodosius I. So Pankration was practiced more than 1000 years in the Olympic Games.
