In the 6th century BCE, a curious fighter named Pythagoras emerged from the island of Samos and challenged the preconceived notions and norms of the sport of boxing. Not to be confused with the famous philosopher, mathematician and theologian of the same name and land, the boxer in question here was likely born a few decades before his famed fellow countryman. When the time came for the Olympic Games of the 48th ancient Olympiad (588 BCE), the boxer, Pythagoras, was evidently at a young age that allowed him to arguably qualify for both the main Olympic competition, as well as a youth tournament that was held in conjunction with the Games. His intention was to compete in the boys’ event, but his Olympic journey would take complicated and unexpected turns.
Our young protagonist, the boxer, was an innovative prodigy in his sport, and he was reported to have exhibited a unique, flamboyant personality that has become stereotypical for young geniuses. He grew out his hair to be unusually long, he wore robes dyed with expensive pigments, and he also kept his physique much slimmer than the average boxer of that time. His hair and dress were simply his style, but the slim build was part of a carefully-crafted new training regimen that the young athlete had been developing. In short, Pythagoras the Boxer was pioneering a training program that focused on nutrition, dieting, and a more scientific approach to athletic efficiency. Nevertheless, by the time of the Olympics, Pythagoras had not yet been able to test out his training and capabilities against any fighters of real renown. Therefore, when it came time for the Olympics, he was an unknown entity and was not a favorite to win by any stretch, even in the youth tournament he wanted to join. The scholar, Diogenes Laertius (3rd century CE), cited an epigram about the boxer, stating:
“Gone to box with other lads
Is the lad Pythagoras,
Gone to the games Olympian
Crates’ son the Samian.”
(Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, 8.1.49. The epigram is also in the Anthologia Planudea, iii.16).
Unfortunately for Pythagoras, he was not given a respectful or welcoming reception at the Olympics. His long hair, flamboyant fashion, and unusual slim physique became the subject of ridicule and mockery, both by fellow competitors and certain Olympic authorities. At the heart of the lampooning was an insinuation that the boxer had a womanly or girlish appearance. The critics and quibblers were so persistent and ferocious in their bullying that they successfully managed to have Pythagoras barred from the boys’ event at the Olympics. Pythagoras, however, was determined to compete, and since he was in that transitionary age between youth and young adulthood, he took that opportunity to sidestep the youth event and instead campaigned to get a spot in the adult boxing competition of the Olympic Games. Pythagoras convinced the Olympic authorities and was given the opportunity to compete. With that chance, the boxer entered the competition and made Olympic history. The historian, Eusebius (c. 260-339 CE), described the outcome of the Olympic boxing tournament of the 48th Olympiad: “Pythagoras of Samos was excluded from the boys’ boxing contest and was mocked for being effeminate, but he went on to the men’s contest and defeated all his opponents” (Eusebius, Chronicle, Book II, The Greek Olympiads, entry for 48th Olympiad/588 BCE). Disproving all the criticism and mockery, the slim and long-haired Pythagoras showcased his prowess and the effectiveness of his dietary program by becoming the Olympic boxing champion.
With an Olympic championship under his belt, proving that he was a magnificent boxer with a winning training routine, Pythagoras went on to have a successful post-Olympics career. He evidently became a professional trainer, instructor, or coach, teaching the sport of boxing and sharing his knowledge on nutrition and dietary plans for athletes. Diogenes Laertius mentioned this, differentiating between Pythagoras the trainer and Pythagoras the philosopher and mathematician, who both advocated for degrees of vegetarianism. Diogenes wrote, “Some say it was a certain trainer named Pythagoras who instituted this diet, and not our Pythagoras…” (Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, 8.1.13). The boxer also had interests outside of athletics, and reportedly went on to write a historical text. This was mentioned by Diogenes in a paragraph that listed the many different people named Pythagoras who all lived in the 6th century BCE. After mentioning the great philosopher, as well as tyrants, sculptors, orators and doctors, Diogenes went on to describe Pythagoras the Boxer. He wrote, “and yet another who, so we are told by Dionysius, wrote a history of the Dorian race. Eratosthenes says, according to what we learn from Favorinus in the eighth book of his Miscellaneous History, that the last-named was the first to box scientifically, in the 48th Olympiad, keeping his hair long and wearing a purple robe; and that when he was excluded with ridicule from the boys’ contest, he went at once to the men’s and won that” (Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, 8.1.47). Unfortunately, little else is known about Pythagoras the Boxer. Few records have survived the erosion of time, leaving unanswered questions such as if the Olympic champion fought again, who he might have coached, what other books he may have written, and when he died. Nevertheless, his vision of a science-based and nutrition-oriented approach to athletics remains very much alive to this day.
Written by C. Keith Hansley
Picture Attribution: (Terracotta lekythos (perfume flask), attributed to the Sabouroff Painter, ca. 460 BCE, [Public Domain] via Creative Commons and the MET).
Sources:
- Eusebius’ Chronicle, translated by Andrew Smith after the Petermann (c. 19th century) Modern Latin Translation, included in Eusebius: Collected Works (Delphi Classics, 2019).
- Diogenes Laërtius: Complete Works, originally translated by R. D. Hicks (1850-1929) and republished by Delphi Classics, 2015.
- https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0258%3Abook%3D8%3Achapter%3D1#note-linkc
