Pankration is an ancient martial art which mixes wrestling and boxing. The sport can be traced as far back as the second millennium BCE in the territory of ancient Greece. Its name derives from the ancient Greek words pan (all) and kratos (strength, might, power) and literally means “all of the might.” In 648 BCE, the Pankration was introduced as a sporting event in the 33rd Olympic Games where it joined boxing and wrestling in a category called “heavy events.” That special group of sports was reserved for the best athletes with the greatest strength and stamina.
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Definition
Timeline
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776 BCEFirst athletic games in honour of Zeus are held at Olympia with one event, the stadion foot race.
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648 BCEThe Pankration (a mix of wrestling and boxing) is added to the schedule of the Olympic Games.
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261 CEThe list of victors running back to 776 BCE ends for the Olympic Games.
