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- Boxing:
It was invented by the Spartans because they didn't wear helmets in battle. They hence boxed to get used to avoiding blows to the head, and to toughen up their faces. (Philostratus, "Gymnastics" 9).
- Wrestling:
It was invented for battle. The proof is that the Athenians fought the battle of Marathon like a wrestling match (Philostratus, "Gymnastics" 11).
Palaestra, daughter of Hermes, invented it. (Philostratus - not the one above - "Images" 2.32).
Theseus invented the art of wrestling. Before that, people just wrestled using brute strength and size. (Pausanias, "Descriptions Of Greece", 1.39.3).
- Pankration:
It was invented for war, like wrestling. The proof is that the Spartans fought unarmed at the end of Thermopylae. (Philostratus, "Gymnastics" 11).
Palaestra invented it when she invented wrestling (Philostratus, "Images" 2.32).
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