1 Cor. ix. 25.ATHLETA. There is frequent mention of Wrestlers, in the Books of Scripture, composed after the establishment of the Grecian Monarchy in the East. Before this time neither Wrestlers, nor any Sports with which they exercised themselves, were known there. Wrestlers were men who used this exercise either for their diversion, or for the sake of health; or lastly, that they might appear in the publick Games with reputation, and obtain the Crowns and Prizes which were proposed at such times as these diversions were held. There were many sorts of Games, but there were reckoned six principally, which were Wrestling, Running, Leaping, Quoits, Boxing, and Boxing and Kicking both together. The life of Wrestlers was very laborious; they abstained from all manner of delicacy and softness, and particularly from the use of Marriage1. To this way of living St. Paul alludes, when he says that every man when he striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. And he farther alludes frequently to their exercises and rewards, 1 Cor. ix. 24. Know ye not that they which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the Prize? Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible Crown. See likewise Philip. iii. 14. The Athletæ who made profession of learning and exercising what was commonly practised in the publick Games, whether Running, Wrestling, Quoiting, Darting, or Leaping, lived in a very severe manner; entered young upon their exercises, endured cold and heat, lived in almost continual labour, abstained from pleasures, wine and cool drinks; eat by rule and measure, and denied themselves several sorts of food, which were thought apt to weaken them2.
Qui studet optatam cursu contingere metam. Multa tulit fecitque puer, sudavit & alsit, Abstinuit venere & Baccho, &c.
The reward of these Athletæ was a Crown of Oak, Pine, Laurel or Olive; but there were other prerogatives besides this, which consisted in exemption from publick Offices, in certain Honours, as in being led about in Triumph, and having Statues erected for them in Cities. But originally the honour of the Victory was the only Prize of the Conquerors; and it is observed, that the first Athletæ lived in a manner much more frugal and laborious than they who came after them; which may serve to reconcile those who speak of Athletæ as people put out to fatten, homines altiles, as Tertullian says, with those who commend their abstinence and temperance.
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