Wrestling[671] consisted of two kinds, the first, called Orthopale, was that style, still commonly in use, in which the antagonists, throwing their arms about each other’s body, endeavoured to bring him to the ground. In the other, called Anaclinopale, the wrestler who distrusted his own strength but had confidence in his courage and powers of endurance, voluntarily flung himself upon the ground, bringing his adversary along with him, and then by pinching, scratching, biting, and every other species of annoyance, sought to compel him to yield. Footnote 671: Cf. Sch. Aristoph. Eq. 569. An example of wrestling in both its forms occurs in Homer, where Ajax Telamon and Odysseus contend in the funeral games for the prize.[672] “Amid the ring each nervous rival stands, Embracing rigid, with implicit hands; Close locked above, their heads and arms are mixt; Below their planted feet at distance fixt. Like two strong rafters which the builder forms Proof to the wintry winds and howling storms; Their tops connected, but at wider space Fixed on the centre stands their solid base. Now to the grasp each manly body bends, The humid sweat from every pore descends, Their bones resound with blows, sides, shoulders, thighs Swell to each gripe, and bloody tumours rise. Nor could Ulysses, for his art renowned, O’erturn the strength of Ajax on the ground; Nor could the strength of Ajax overthrow The watchful caution of his artful foe. While the long strife even tires the lookers-on, Thus to Ulysses spoke great Telamon: Or let me lift thee, Chief, or lift thou me, Prove we our strength and Jove the rest decree. He said; and straining heaved him off the ground With matchless strength; that time Ulysses found The strength t’ evade, and where the nerves combine His ankle struck: the giant fell supine. Ulysses following on his bosom lies, Shouts of applause run rattling through the skies. Ajax to lift Ulysses next essays; He barely stirred him but he could not raise. His knee locked fast the foe’s attempt defied, And grappling close they tumbled side by side, Defiled with honourable dust they roll, Still breathing strife and unsubdued of soul.” Footnote 672: Il. ψ. 708, sqq. et Heyne ad loc. Boxing, which has very properly been called a rough exercise, though condemned by physicians and philosophers, was still practised in the gymnasium, sometimes with the naked fist but more frequently with the cestus, which consisted of a series of thongs, bound round the hand and arm up to the elbow, or even higher.[673] This exercise, however, seems to have been little practised, except by those who designed to become athletæ by profession. Homer has described the combat with the cestus in its most terrible form.[674]