The Origins of Wrestling – Did you know wrestling is one of the most ancient sports ever? It holds a rich history which dates back thousands of years! In this article, we will explore the origins of wrestling and delve into its roots to trace the short development of this practice through the ages. Read this article, get a brief overview, and learn more about the fascinating origins of wrestling.
The Beginnings of Combat
The most ancient traces of wrestling that have been found so far date back to Sumerian times, approximately 5,000 years ago. There are also several works of art depicting belt wrestling, found in Babylonia and Egypt, dating all the way back to 3,000 BCE.
These were highly social events, where people would gather together to predict the several possible outcomes of a match. A process similar to the modern and contemporary phenomenon of online betting. Additionally, ancient mythology incorporates elements of wrestling into its stories, more specifically in the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh.
Traces of ancient wrestling were found in several different locations in the world, one of them being India. In India, wrestling traces were found, dating back to 1,500 BCE. These findings were proper documents also mentioning elements of wrestling in the Chinese and Japanese cultures of that time.
Greeks and Romans
Wrestling was a fundamental part of ancient Greek culture, and it featured prominently in the Olympic Games from 776 BCE onwards. Greek wrestlers are known in history for the fact that they competed naked, as we can see from the several illustrations of vases and coins, which provide some valuable insights into the style and traditions of our ancestors.
For the ancient Greeks, wrestling was a way to develop combat skills, which would have been used. Therefore, technique and physical prowess were significant for them. Similarly, the Romans adopted Greek wrestling but modified it, creating Greco-Roman wrestling, a distinct style, less brutal and more sportive.
Wrestling continued to evolve throughout history. It can be found in many documents and illustrations from the middle ages, as well as in modern history, where it slowly started to gain the shape of the format we know today, which can be defined as freestyle wrestling, which is done for sportive reasons, and not as a war training. This type of wrestling is very popular today, with thousands of fans worldwide.
