Biomechanical Insights in Ancient Greek Combat Sports: A Static Analysis of Selected Pottery Depictions

Abstract

Background: Though ancient Greece preserves many pictures of combat sports, there is limited research in terms of biomechanical analysis of their sports. This research aimed to investigate the Pankration postures of ancient Greek athletics, expecting to bridge the gap between historical sports practices and contemporary biomechanical applications.

Methods: This study employed computer vision (OpenPose) to analyze two images, one as readiness and another as kicking postures, from ancient Greek Pankration by constructing a static multi-segmental model. Using Newton's Laws, the models simulated the postures as presented in historical depictions, estimated joint forces and moments, and calculated weight distribution and ground reaction forces for these postures.

Results: For the readiness posture, it was found that the right hind leg experienced significant forces, with the highest moment at the knee joint, while the ankle and hip joints showed similar slightly lower moments. The front leg encountered lower forces and moments. For the kick posture, the supporting leg experienced the highest moment at the knee, while the kicking leg showed minimal moments at the ankle, knee, and hip.

Conclusions: The static analysis provided quantitative estimates of joint forces and moments in the depicted Pankration postures, suggesting that these postures were biomechanically effective for their intended functions in combat. While the analysis cannot confirm whether ancient athletes deliberately applied biomechanical principles, the results highlight the potential of biomechanical modeling to enhance our understanding of ancient sports practices. The research demonstrates the possible benefits of integrating static analysis with historical elements to study the physical demands and techniques of ancient combat sports.

Keywords: Pankration; ancient athletics; combat sports; sports biomechanics; static analysis.

Figure 1

A typical readiness posture of ancient Greek athletes in combat. The image depicts an athlete engaged in the ancient Greek sport of Pankration, as illustrated on a red-figure amphora housed in the Staatliche Antikensammlungen Museum in Munich, Germany [24].

Figure 2

The final posture presents an athlete who receives a kick, possibly aimed at the opponent’s abdomen area. The present illustrates a scene of a Pankration match depicted on a black-figure amphora from the classical period (5th century BCE) [24].

Figure 3

Modified foot position emphasizing the heel strike. The altered foot orientation is consistent with ancient textual descriptions of defensive maneuvers, as exemplified by the attacker–defender interaction depicted in Figure 2.

Figure 4

Biomechanical model of lower limbs in the sagittal plane, used for calculating ground reaction forces. The model was used to estimate the ground reaction forces (GRFs). The model consisted of seven segments: two thighs, two shanks, two feet, and the pelvis (represented by the horizontal rectangle connecting the limbs).

Figure 5

Biomechanical model of the lower limbs in the sagittal plane, adjusted for calculating ground reaction forces across different postures. The model, consisting of seven segments—two thighs, two shanks, two feet, and the pelvis (represented by the horizontal rectangle connecting the limbs)—was used to estimate ground reaction forces (GRF) while accounting for variations in posture, joint angles, and load distribution. The left free body diagram (a) represents the initial posture found in Figure 1 while the right (b) corresponds to Figure 2. It is important to note that, due to the kick facing the opposite direction compared to the readiness posture, the reference system has been adjusted to align with the depictions. Specifically, while the negative sign in the readiness posture indicates clockwise moments, this convention is reversed in the second depiction, where the negative sign now represents a counterclockwise moment.

Figure 6

Diagram illustrating the equilibrium of forces on the foot. The figure is a free body diagram that presents the lever arms in vector form, along with the forces and moments acting on the respective segment, i.e., the foot.

Figure 7

Representation of lower leg forces from ankle to knee, showing equilibrium conditions.

Figure 8

Analysis of the femur demonstrating force and moment equilibrium, as forces are transmitted from the knee to the hip joint.

Figure 9

Vertical forces on lower extremity joints during “readiness” static posture and kick posture highlight differences in force distribution between the right and left legs. Since the vertical forces were calculated, it is clear that the reactions will have opposite signs. As the weight of each segment is subtracted, the vertical force progressively decreases from the foot up to the hip.

Figure 10

Joint moments at the ankle, knee, and hip for “readiness” posture (left) and kick posture (right). Positive moments indicate counterclockwise rotation, and negative moments indicate clockwise rotation.