The Pankration – from “pan” meaning all‚ and “Kratos” meaning “powers” or strengths” – was an ancient Greek combat sport and the most popular event of the ancient Greek Olympics. This brutal‚ yet revered discipline was a highly sophisticated art‚ that attracted the most impressive athletes in the Hellenic world. The Pankration was the ultimate showcase of strength‚ technique‚ martial values‚ and competitive honor.   Origins of the Greek Pankration Foul: an illegal eye gouge during a Pankration match is spotted and penalized by the Umpire (far right)‚ Source: Wikimedia Commons   The “heavy events” of the Ancient Olympics comprised three combat sports. Ancient Olympic Boxing‚ though brutal‚ was seen as an honest sport. Mutual respect and fair play were valued. Wrestling joined the games in 708 BC and too was regarded as a noble pursuit. The aristocratic philosopher Plato was a wrestler in his youth. Born with the name Aristocles‚ his wrestling coach‚ Ariston of Argos‚ dubbed him “Platon” (meaning “broad shouldered”) on account of his physique.    In 648 BC‚ boxing and wrestling were fused into the closest thing to no-rules‚ all-out hand-to-hand combat the world of sport has ever seen. The Pankration was a dangerous form of wrestling that allowed strikes‚ kicks‚ and grappling techniques‚ including upper and lower body joint locks and strangles. The only banned techniques were biting and eye gouging.    The Most Popular Ancient Olympic Sport Two athletes competing in the Pankration‚ Panathenaic amphora‚ made in Athens in 332-331 BC‚ Source: Wikimedia Commons   There is very little surviving information about the Pankration’s history (matches‚ competitions) and technical aspects. Much was allegedly lost in the destruction of the Library of Alexandria. However‚ despite scant information‚ it is widely acknowledged that the Pankration was considered to be the most popular Olympic sport in ancient Greece.    The discipline stood as the ultimate test of strength and technique‚ it remained an Olympic mainstay for centuries. Given its prestige‚ it likely attracted many of the greatest athletes in the Hellenic world. Champions became known as Olympionikai – the victors at Olympia‚ a most prestigious title. According to ancient Greek belief‚ each Olympic sport’s rules were devised by a hero or god. Pankration was said to have been invented by the Greek hero Theseus. According to legend‚ Theseus combined boxing and wrestling to defeat the Cretan Minotaur lurking within Knossos’s labyrinth.    A Sophisticated Art Panathenaic prize amphora depicting a pankration match‚ made in Attika by Kleophrades Painter circa 500 BCE. Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art   The genesis of Pankration as a competitive sport likely stemmed from its obvious military applications. Many Pankratists were also soldiers. Notably‚ the Pankration was particularly popular amongst Spartans‚ who allowed biting and gouging in inter-city competitions‚ possibly as it formed a part of their general combat training. Historically‚ the Pankration evolved through two distinct stages in its history: the Ano Pankration (Upper Pankration) and the Kato Pankration (Lower Pankration). The former emphasized standing techniques‚ aiming to floor opponents with a blend of strikes‚ trips‚ and throws. Conversely‚ the latter focused on ground fighting and the aim of submission through strikes‚ joint manipulation‚ and strangles.    Contrary to the idea of Pankration as a brutal and crude fight to the death (though fatalities did occur)‚ the Pankration was a refined art‚ encompassing sophisticated aspects of training‚ technique‚ and bio-mechanical knowledge and understanding.    The Most Famous of all Pankratists Attic black-figure skyphos with contest scene. Source: The Met   The Pankration’s immense popularity elevated its champions to the status of demi-gods. None were more renowned than Arrichion of Phigaleia. Arrichion claimed victory at the 52nd and 53rd Olympiads (572 &; 568 BCE)‚ before meeting his demise while defending his championship at the 54th Olympiad (564 BCE). Legend recounts his final showdown: Arrichion’s antagonist caught him in a suffocating stranglehold from behind. As the “sleep of death” began to overwhelm his senses‚ Arrichion – loathe to give in – summoned the last of his reserves. He threw his weight to the left‚ seized his opponent’s foot‚ and snapped his ankle with a final burst of strength.   Unable to bear the pain Arrichion’s opponent submitted. However‚ still trapped in the stranglehold‚ Arrichion inadvertently snapped his own neck with his sudden forceful maneuver‚ meeting instantaneous death. His antagonist’s surrender nonetheless led to Arrichion’s victory. Arrichion epitomized the ultimate warrior ideal of the champion Pankratist: victory or death.

Energy drinks‚ despite their popularity‚ don't have the greatest reputation when it comes to either taste or side effects‚ but a recent study seems to indicate their side effects might be more severe than we thought. Or at least‚ more severe for the children who consume them. Per Fox News‚...

Police in Florida announced on Sunday that they cracked the case of a 44-year-old unsolved murder. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office posted a statement on its Facebook page that the investigation into the four-decade-old murder of Carol Ann Barrett has come to end -- two years after serial killer Billy Mansfield...

Triboulet The Jester was a comedically gifted court Jester that lived during the reigns of both Louis XII and Francis I. Triboulet was involved in some infamous incidents that have persisted in history over time.

A.F. Branco Cartoon – Minnesota Farmer Lance Nistler says he was denied grant funding because of his race in a new lawsuit. White Minnesota farmer sues the state for racial discrimination By  Luke Sprinkel  – January 27‚ 2024 In a lawsuit filed in federal court‚ a white Minnesota farmer is suing Gov. Tim Walz and the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) for racial discrimination. On July 20‚ 2023‚ Lance Nistler applied for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s “Down Payment Assistance Grant” program. This program awards qualified farmers with up to $15‚000 in grant funding to help them purchase their first farm. Among the requirements‚ applicants must be Minnesota residents who intend to farm the land they purchase for a minimum of five years and who have never owned a farm before. However‚ Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and Democratic majorities in the Minnesota Legislature authorized a new preference system last year which changes how grant funding is awarded under the program. READ MORE DONATE to A.F. Branco Cartoons – Tips accepted and appreciated – $1.00 – $5.00 – $25.00 – $50.00 – it all helps to fund this website and keep the cartoons coming. Also Venmo @AFBranco – THANK YOU! A.F. Branco has taken his two greatest passions (art and politics) and translated them into cartoons that have been popular all over the country in various news outlets‚ including NewsMax‚ Fox News‚ MSNBC‚ CBS‚ ABC‚ and “The Washington Post.” He has been recognized by such personalities as Rep. Devin Nunes‚ Dinesh D’Souza‚ James Woods‚ Chris Salcedo‚ Sarah Palin‚ Larry Elder‚ Lars Larson‚ Rush Limbaugh‚ and President Trum

The producer collaborated with Yorke on the 1998 UNKLE album Psyence Fiction

How an LA flophouse and the original Hard Rock Café played a part in creating the iconic artwork of The Doors’ Morrison Hotel album