Fig. 120. Panathenaic amphora. Boulogne, Musée Municipale, 441.
Passing on to body-holds we find a preliminary position represented on a Panathenaic vase in the British Museum (Fig. [111]). The wrestlers have each one hand round the other’s back, and one of them with his other hand grasps the other’s wrist.
A very effective body-hold is obtained by seizing the opponent round the waist with both hands: he can then be lifted off his feet and swung to the ground. The hold may be obtained from the front, from behind, or from the side, and all three forms are constantly represented. There are various technical terms for such grips,[[675]] and the effectiveness of the grip is shown by the proverbial use of the expression μέσον ἔχειν, to hold by the waist.
The body-hold from the front is difficult to obtain, but when obtained is extremely effective. It is the hold by which Hackenschmidt, a few years ago, gained his sensational victory over Madrali. But clumsiness and slowness are fatal, for, as the wrestler stoops to obtain the under grip, his opponent can either, by a sideways movement, obtain a hold for the heave, or falling on him may force him to the ground. This is the fate which continually befalls Cercyon and Antaeus as they rush in blindly, head down, in hope of obtaining this hold.[[676]] The danger of it is well illustrated by a pair of groups from a black-figured amphora in Munich (Fig. [121]). In both cases a bearded athlete rushes in to seize his opponent by the waist: the upper group is merely preliminary; in the lower group his opponent, unable to secure a hold for the heave owing to the grip on his right hand, seems to be pressing on him with all his weight to bear him to the ground. Perhaps a further stage is represented on a red-figured kylix in the Museum at Philadelphia (Fig. [122]). One wrestler has already lost his balance, and is supporting himself with both hands on the ground. The other with his left hand holds his right arm down, and with the other prepares to take a body-hold and roll him over. Usually then the body-hold from the front is unsuccessful. On the Berlin amphora (Fig. [116]) we see a youth who has successfully obtained this hold on a bearded athlete, and lifts him off his feet in order to throw him.
Fig. 121. B.-f. amphora. Munich, 1336.
Fig. 122. R.-f. kylix. Philadelphia.
