Gallo-Roman Bronze Group of Two Pankratiasts

Culture: Gallo-Roman

Period: 2nd century A.D.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 10.5 cm high

Price: 4 800 Euro

Ref: 3302

Provenance: French private collection, thence Tajan auction of 8 February 2008, lot 284. Lastly again in a French collection. Accompanied by a French antiquities passport.

Condition: The right hands of both figures missing, a small hole in the right lower leg of the figure in the back, otherwise of fine quality.

Description: Rare solid bronze depiction of two pankratiasts. The pankration, a combination of wrestling and boxing (but with empty hands) was some ancient Olympic martial arts performed until the late Roman period. In this sculptural group the athlete in the back uses the so-called combination of arm locks and single shoulder locks, causing almost complete immobility of his opponent. Both athletes are nude with short curled hair, a full beard and large round eyes. A provincial version dating to the Roman period after a Hellenistic model. See the bronze group of pankratiasts in the State Antiquities Collection in Munich. The obvious size difference of the two combatants suggests that the present model depicts Heracles wrestling with the giant Antaios. Mounted.