The Oxyrhynchus Papyrus n.466 (MS P.Oxy.III.466) is a fragmentary 2nd century Greek wrestling manual[1] and the oldest extant Western martial arts treatise. The original currently rests in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library of Columbia University in New York City, NY (USA). It is part of the Oxyrhynchus Papyri series, a group of manuscripts discovered by archaeologists including Bernard P. Grenfell and Arthur S. Hunt at an ancient rubbish dump near Oxyrhynchus in Egypt. The text is in three columns with 13, 15, and 10 lines (from left to right). Each technique is concluded with the instruction πλέξον ("tangle"), translated as "fight it out" or "mix it up".

Provenance

The known provenance of the Oxyrhynchus Papyrus n.466 is:

Created in the 2nd century.

Discovered by Bernard P. Grenfell and Arthur S. Hunt near Oxyrhynchus, Egypt and published in 1903.

Until 1907 - Owned by the Egypt Exploration Society.

1907-present - Held by Columbia University.

Contents

1rv Anonymous grappling text Featured Translation

by Michael B. Poliakoff Transcription [edit]

by Bernard P. Grenfell and Arthur S. Hunt You stand up to his side, attack with your foot and fight it out. You throw him. You stand up and turn around. You fight it out. You throw him. You sweep and knock his foot out. Stand to the side of your Opponent and with your right arm take a headlock and fight it out. You take a hold around him. You get under his hold. You step through and fight it out. You underhook with your right arm. You wrap your arm around his, where he has taken the underhook, and attack the side with your left foot. You push away with your left hand. You force the hold and fight it out. You turn around. You fight it out with a grip on both sides. You throw your foot forward. You take a hold around his body. You step forward and force his head back. You face him and bend back and throw yourself into him, bracing your foot...

Gallery

Images hosted by Columbia University.

Front

Back

Additional Resources

References

↑ Advanced Papyrological Information System. Retrieved 26 May 2012. APIS record: columbia.apis.p356 ".. Retrieved 26 May 2012.

Copyright and License Summary

For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.