Theogenes was the greatest of gladiators. He was a boxer who served under the patronage of a cruel nobleman, a prince who took great delight in bloody spectacles. … The two contestants were not permitted the freedom of a ring. Instead, they were strapped to flat stones, facing each other nose-to-nose. When the signal was given, they would begin hammering each other with fists encased in heavy leather thongs. It was a fight to the death. Fourteen hundred and twenty-five times Theoigenes was strapped to the stone and fourteen hundred and twenty-five times he emerged a victor. Perhaps it is Theogenes who is depicted in the famous Roman status … of The pugilist at rest. … The pugilist is sitting on a rock with his forearms balanced on his thighs. That he is seated and not pacing implies that he has been through all this many times before. It appears that he is conserving his strength. His head is turned as if he were looking over his shoulder – as if someone had just whispered something to him. … Could it be that someone has just summoned him to the arena? There is a slight look of befuddlement on his face, but there is no trace of fear. There is an air about him that suggests that he is eager to proceed … even though his life will soon be on the line. Besides the deformities on his noble face. there is also the suggestion of weariness and phlosophical resigation. … How did he come to be at this place in space and time? Would he rather be safely removed to the countryside – an obscure, stinking peasant shoving a plow behind a mule? Would that be better?
Thom Jones, The pugilist at rest, p 18
23. März 2006 08:15 Uhr. Kategorie Buch. Keine Antwort.
