Page "Pankration" Paragraph 10

There were neither weight divisions nor time limits in pankration competitions.

However, there were two or three age groups in the competitions of antiquity.

In the Olympic Games specifically there were only two such age groups: men ( andres – ἄνδρες ) and boys ( paides – παῖδες ).

The pankration event for boys was established at the Olympic Games in 200 B. C ..

In pankration competitions, referees were armed with stout rods or switches to enforce the rules.

In fact, there were only two rules regarding combat: no eye gouging or biting.

The contest itself usually continued uninterrupted until one of the combatants submitted, which was often signalled by the submitting contestant raising his index finger.

The judges appear, however, to have had the right to stop a contest under certain conditions and award the victory to one of the two athletes ; they could also declare the contest a tie.