The boxers pictured here are engaged in the most lethal of Olympic sports. Greek athletes wrapped their fists in leather thongs and pummeled one anothers heads until one contestant surrendered. The head was the only fair target since hitting the body was against the rules.
Quite a romp through the ancient Olympic games is Tony Perrottet's The Naked Olympics. Although based on sound historical research he entertainingly describes the social and the more humorous aspects of the Olympics. For a brief but soundly researched and thoroughly entertaining volume you would do well to read this work. The work is timely now that the Beijing Summer Games are upon us.
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