Boxing has always been a popular sport and martial art in recorded history, especially in Ancient Egypt where seen can be seen being depicted in tombs of pharaohs like "Mery Ra" in the Minia Governorate and the tomb of "Ptah Hotep".
Ancient Egyptians are known to have practiced boxing as early as 3000 BC. Egyptologists have discovered references to this sport in hieroglyphs and wall paintings, which indicates that it was an essential part of ancient Egyptian culture.
Boxing during this time was a brutal sport that required physical strength and agility. Boxers would wrap their hands in animal hides or linen strips, then engage in fights that sometimes lasted for hours. The bouts would only end when one of the fighters was knocked out or couldn't stand up any longer.
One notable ancient Egyptian boxer was Ahmose, son of Ebana, who lived during the 18th Dynasty. Ahmose was a military man and was highly respected for his fighting skills. He was also known to have boxing matches with his companions, which were well-documented in his tomb paintings. These paintings show Ahmose wearing boxing gloves and throwing punches, indicating that boxing was a sophisticated and highly-regarded sport in ancient Egyptian times.
Ancient Egyptian boxing was not limited to men. Women also engaged in boxing matches, as shown in wall paintings in tombs. Egyptian women had significant autonomy in ancient times, allowing them to participate in a variety of activities, including boxing.
Works cited:
Hassan, F. A. (1997). The predynastic of Egypt. Journal of world prehistory, 11(2), 135-185.
Comments / 0