Creation of Gods & Men
Botticelli
All ancient peoples developed convenient myths to explain the creation of gods and men.
Aphrodite (a.k.a. Venus) was created when Cronus cut the testicles off of Uranus and threw them into the ocean (don’t try it). She was formed from the resulting foam, and then floated to shore on a clam shell. Venus was the Roman goddess of love and beauty, and Aphrodite was the Greek equivalent.
Aphrodite/Venus did not have a good wrestler’s stance but she was very good at set-ups.
The Birth of Venus (1482)
She set-up Troy for its big fall by promising Paris the most beautiful woman in the world – Helen, who had a face that launched a thousand ships. Unfortunately Helen happened to be already married to the Greek king Menaleus. The Trojan war was a rescue mission.
As wrestlers we must have a good stance and be good at set-ups and takedowns. Then go straight for the pin.
Michelangelo
Creation of Adam (1511)
This piece is part of the painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican (home of the Pope) in Rome. The whole ceiling took about four years for Michelangelo to complete, all by himself. Michelangelo considered himself a sculptor, not a painter, and he painted the ceiling under protest. It is now one of the word’s most famous works of art. The series of images on the ceiling include the Creation of Adam, the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, and Noah and the Flood.
What does this piece have to do with wrestling? Think of the name – “The creation of Adam”. ….. The creation of A(dam) ….The creation of a dam good …..The creation of a dam good wrestler (i.e. you!) Listen to your coach, train hard, and it will happen.
Lucas Cranach
Part of the Old Testament story written by “J”, which is a name given to the oldest of the writers of the Bible who probably lived just after the time of King David. Some scholars think that “J” might have been a woman. Note the fig leaves in this painting. In puritanical times the private parts in sculptures and paintings (originally bare) were often covered over with fig leaves. In wrestling we use singlets for this purpose.
Adam and Eve (1530)
Bill Reid
We have our own home-grown myth on how man was created. The Haida from Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) speak of a great flood. When the waters receded a Raven found a clam shell that contained the first Men, being a group of boys. The Raven hunted further and found some girls under some chiton shells.
Raven and the First Men (1980)
After getting over their shyness the boys started showing off for the girls……but then they all lived happily ever after, and they trained together and made their coaches happy by giving 110% effort to their schoolwork and to their training.
When studying this piece we see some poor wrestling positions. Get off your back, and if you are on your back then please bridge with your feet on the ground rather than in the air. Also, boys should wear jock straps.