145 Boxing Vase

Museum Description: Black-Figured Panathenaic Amphora

Room: 69/Case: 18/Number: GR 1872.8-20.271

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:26

This vase shows a boxing contest, a popular sport and part of the ancient Isthmian and Olympic Games.

Boxing in ancient Greece was even more barbaric than it is today.  Rather than gloves with padding, the boxers would wear strips of leather studded with metal.  The contests could last for hours, and one ancient boxer records that after a four hour boxing match he could no longer recognise himself in a mirror!  Obviously inappropriate as entertainment for Christians, it does bring to life Paul's illustration about putting into practice what we learn from the Bible.  When fighting against Satan and our own imperfections, Paul said: "the way I am aiming my blows is so as not to be striking the air."  Other similar or related artefacts are on display in The British Museum.