Assyrian Wall Relief - Archers from the Guard of the Persian King (500 B.C.)

Civilization started in Mesopotamia, sometimes known as the fertile crescent.   This area had an abundance of plants and animals that could be domesticated, which gave rise to the “economic surplus” that allowed civilization to develop.  The Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians and Assyrians all came from this area.  The whole area was eventually controlled by the Persians, who were the constant enemies of the Greeks.   Mesopotamia was the ancestral home of Abraham, the supposed founder of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.   Some historians think Abraham left Mesopotamia in about 1850 B.C.  

The original flood myth in the Bible may have originated from the story of Gilgamesh, which is the oldest known written work of literature and was set in Mesopotamia.  It was written in about 2000 B.C. and is the tale of a great King who lived about 700 years earlier (around 2700B.C.)     The story of Gilgamesh also contains the world’s first story of a wrestling match.  King Gilgamesh defeated Enkidu, who then became his best friend.   Bear that in mind when you come up against a good opponent from Port Alberni or St. Thomas More or any other North Shore school.

Egyptian Art - From a Tomb in the Valley of the Kings (1300 B.C.)

There is evidence to suggest that all twelve tribes of the Hebrews (represented by the twelve sons of Jacob, who had the famous wrestling match with the angel) migrated to Egypt during a time of famine in what is now Israel.  They may have returned some time about 1250 B.C., under the leadership of Moses, of Ten Commandments fame.   Your wrestling coach could list ten commandments for you, such as keep your head up and back straight, get lower than your opponent, don’t shoot unless you are close enough to touch your opponent, try to create angles of attack, etc. 

Greek/Roman Art - Battle of Issus (80 BC)

This piece is a Roman mosaic based on an earlier Greek painting by Philoxenos.  The mosaic measures 19 feet by 10 feet and originally contained about one million pieces of tile.  It was built in a house in the doomed city of Pompeii (near what is now Naples), which was buried when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD.  The mosaic shows a scene of Alexander the Great defeating King Darius III of Persia. Note the dying man looking at his own reflection in the hubcap of the fleeing chariot.   Alexander conquered most of the world that was known to the Greeks.

Alexander was ruthless.  Hitler, Stalin, Alexander – all birds of a feather.  Alexander completely annihilated enemy towns, including the Greek city of Thebes.   On one of his military campaigns he killed ten per cent of his own troops.   But Alexander was a master of the surprise attack.  The benefits of a surprise attack apply to wrestlers.  Do the unexpected.  Switch from defense to offence immediately. 

Roman Wall Mural – Garden Scene (late first century BC)

The Romans were excellent engineers and warriors, but most students of antiquity agree that they lacked the artistic and intellectual creativity of the Greeks.  However, they did manage to produce some beautiful murals for the walls of the wealthy.  This is a scene of peace and tranquility from a wall mural in a villa just outside of Rome.  You should try to have some peace of mind and tranquility between bouts at tournaments (that is, before warming up and getting into the right frame mind just before your next bout).