Tasker, Account of the origin of wrestling (1792)

(From Tasker’s Miscellanies, lately published.)

Pale or wrestling was first introduced into the Olympic stadium in the eighteenth Olympiad: and Eurybatus, a Spartan, was the first who received the wrestlers crown; though, according to Plutarch, Theseus was the first who reduced this exercise into a science. One very remarkable difference between the ancient and modern wrestlers was, that the former wrestled naked, and had their bodies rubbed all over with oil; and after the champions were thus prepared for the engagement, Lucian informs us, that they were matched by the judges, by casting lots into a silver urn, dedicated to Jupiter: — the victory in the contest was adjudged to him who gave his adversary three falls as appears already from the famous Greek epigram on Milo; but, if one (page 166) one of the combatants, in falling, drew his antagonist with him, the contest was not decided, (as we find from what happened between Ulysses and Ajax, at the funeral games for Patroclus, as recorded by Homer), but was sometimes begun afresh; and sometimes continued on the ground, until one getting uppermost, constrained the other to yield the victory: and this last combat alone was called Anaclinopale. Solon in one of Lucian’s Dialogues (as translated by West) observes, that those, who are well instructed in the art of wrestling, learn from thence to fall without hurt, to rise nimbly, to push and grapple with their adversaries, to twist and turn them, to squeeze them till they were almost strangled, and to lift them from the ground; qualities, without doubt that were used in the ancient modes of war. — In confirmation of this opinion, Plutarch asserts, that the Thebans were indebted to their superior skill and practise in the ancient art of wrestling, for the famous victory obtained by them over the Lacedemonians at Leuctra. — The most distinguished Athlete in this exercise was Milo of Crotona, who gained six Olympic and six Pythian crowns, besides two other crowns that he won when but a boy. There are so many instances recorded of the prodigious strength of this wrestler, as to become proverbial. The following anecdotes, however, being recently extracted from Pausanias, may exhibit something of novelty to the English reader, since they have not been common in the English language.

Milo had a statue erected to his memory in his life time, and most probably from its great weight, there appeared some difficulty how to carry it to the Alti, or sacred grove, but the strong man of Crotona soon obviated this difficulty, by mounting it on his own shoulders, and carrying it thither himself: he likewise, used as a boastful exertion of his corporal power, to tie a bowstring tight round his head, and burst it by the swell of his veins. But if we may judge from the mode of his coming to his end, he possessed more brawn than brains, and seems to have had the outside of his head stronger furnished than the inside: the instance of foolhardiness occasioning his death, must be well known at this time, since it was the subject of a painting in the royal exhibition by C. Taconel. — The Roman satirist — Juvenal, sums up the character of Milo strongly in the following words:

— Viribus ille Confisus periit admirandisque lacertis. — 10th Satyr.

Wrestling is one of the common English exercises in almost every county of England, more particularly so in Devon and Cornwall; and almost every ring at a country wake or revel, (for the prize of a gold-laced hat or purse of guineas) exhibits athletics that might vie with any of the Olympic stadiums. The author gives two instances of extraordinary champions, on his own personal knowledge: the first J. Coppe, (commonly called Little Cock), now living in the neighbourhood of Great Torrington, in the county of Devon. This man (at present past his grand climacteric), never exceeded five feet five inches in stature. In his youth he reigned master of the ring, at all the wrestling them (pp. 167) matches in the counties of Devon, Cornwall, and Somersetshire, for twenty years together. This Milo in miniature, though short, nowwise large made; and in consequence of his former exertions, he now labours under the heavy complaints of a hernia (a rupture) almost as big as his head. This singular athlete was bow-legged.

The second instance is that of W. Wreyford (commonly known by the name of Blind Will). This man is now about forty years of age, has been stone blind ever since he was eight years of age, about five feet ten inches in stature, and of a robust make. He is one of the first wrestlers in Devonshire, he is usually led into the ring by a boy, as a guide, and is always indulged with the privilege of taking hold of his antagonist by the collar, and when he has one got a firm hold, he kicks, trips, and goes through every manoeuvre of the wrestling art; seldom or ever failing to throw his antagonist on his back, though frequently a man of more strength and power than himself. This most singular athlete is now living at Cheriton Cross, on the turnpike road between Exeter and Oakhampton.

N.B. The practice and habit of wrestling is of great use in the modern art of fencing.

P.