Pankration: An Ancient Sport That Defined a Life

Pankration, as practiced in antiquity, was an athletic event that combined techniques of both boxing and wrestling as well as additional elements, such as strikes with the legs. In extreme cases, a pankration competition could result in even the death of one of the combatants.

By Miriam’s time, the Romans had adopted into their Games this Greek combat sport (giving it the Latin spelling, pancratium).

In The Deadliest Lie, Miriam and her father react to Binyamin’s first pancratium bout:

“Then came that day at the Gymnasium when he slew young Titus. I knew at that moment that no matter how hard I would try to keep the promise I made to your mother, Binyamin would be the athlete more than the scholar, a Greek more than a Jew, or worse yet, ­­a Roman, barbarous, haughty, and determined to win at all costs.” Papa pressed his lips together and tightened his grip on the glass. “The horror of that day turned my fatherly pride into disgust, and Binyamin became for me a grotesque caricature of his boyhood self.”

“Maybe the lesson, Papa, is that notwithstanding a parent’s well-intentioned guidance, children have to define their own future. As a parent, you gave Binyamin the opportunity for a wide range of choices. Then it was up to him to choose the life that made the most sense to him.”

And it will be up to Miriam to choose between Noah, her father’s choice for her betrothal, and Judah, the man she loves. To see how Miriam resolves her dilemma, just click here.