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Ancient Greek boxer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Melankomas, or Melancomas (Greek: Μελανκόμας or Μελαγκόμας), meaning 'One with the Black Hair,' was an Ancient Greek boxer from Caria and victor in the 207th Olympiad (49 AD.).
Personal information | |||||||||
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Native name | Μελανκόμας | ||||||||
Nationality | Ancient Greek | ||||||||
Born | Caria (modern-day Turkey) | ||||||||
Died | ~70 A.D. Naples, Italy | ||||||||
Sport | |||||||||
Sport | Ancient Greek Boxing | ||||||||
Medal record
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Melankomas was born in Caria to an Ancient Greek boxing champion, of the same name, who lived during the first century C.E. He made a name for himself as an Ancient Greek boxer in the Olympiad, even winning in the 207th Olympiad in 49 A.D.[1][2][3]
Supposedly he had a unique boxing style, blocking and avoiding the punches of the other boxer without throwing any himself.[4][5] Once his opponents had run out of stamina they would forfeit, leaving Melankomas the victor.[6] It was related by Dio Chrysostom that he was able to fight like this by training significantly more than his contemporaries and having an unmatched endurance, being able to fight through a whole day or hold his arms up, in a static hold, continuously for two days.[3][7]
Melankomas died young, around the year 70 A.D. during the games in Naples.[2][3][8]
Melankomas is known to us mainly from the 28th and 29th Discourses of Dio Chrysostom, in which that writer uses his life as a canvas for a discussion of the ideal athlete and the ideal man; Dio praises his athleticism, good looks, and brave heart. Dio says he never lost a match, hit an opponent, or was struck by an opponent.[7][8][9] Themistius reports that the emperor Titus was his lover (erastes).[10]
Some scholars believe Melankomas to have been a real person, while others believe that he or his record was an invention of Dio's; there is nothing allowing a firm conclusion either way.[2][5][8]
Melankomas was mentioned in a second-season episode of Sports Night as a contender for "Athlete of the Millennium."[citation needed]
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