The Greek Myrmex — Deadly Weapon in a Fight

1907

It Was the Deadliest Weapon of the Ancient Pugilist

The four ounce glove was unknown to the ancient pugilist. When the boxers and fighters came together in the old days of Greece they wore upon their hands the cestus, which was in itself a terrible adjunct to any fighter. But Dr. Daniel G. Briton discovered that there was sometimes attached to the cestus a deadlier weapon, consisting of a three pronged fork of bronze.

This was known as the myrmex, and Dr. Brinton, who found this specimen, gave it to the museum of archaeology in the University of Pennsylvania. Classical literature has frequent references to the myrmex, which is described as the deadliest weapon of the ancient pugilist. The right hand was swathed in tough hide, bound in place with thongs and supplemented by small knobs of lead or iron, to which was affixed the myrmex. Dr. Brinton made his discovery in Paris by examining the Greek and Roman marbles in the Louvre. One of these groups represented a fighter bearing on his right fist the cestus and myrmex.

Combats in those days were much more brutal and dangerous than those of the modern prize ring. It is easily seen that a single blow of the myrmex might cause death or permanent injury.