Your Body is Your Temple
Your Body is Your Temple: Look After It!
Greek Sculpture
The Winged Victor is is a glorious sculpture and you are in a glorious sport. This sculpture is often called the Nike (like the running shoe or wrestling boot), which means Victory. Nike/Victory is an allegorical figure and not a real goddess.
With the exception of some Spartan girls and unlike our BC female students, most Greek girls did not wrestle. But all Greeks worshipped immortal goddesses such as Hera, Athena, Artemis and Aphrodite. Athena in particular was a mighty warrior.
Winged Victory of Samothrace (200 B.C.)
When mortal men tangled with these goddesses they invariably paid the price. The famous tribe of mythical Amazon women from Greek mythology were also acknowledged to be fierce in battle. Some of these women supposedly participated in the Trojan War on the side of the Trojans, but along with the Trojans they were defeated by Achilles and his cohorts. The trick for modern girl wrestlers is to beat up the boys when the boys are grade 7 and 8 weaklings and then never wrestle them again!
Michelangelo
This is one of the world’s most famous sculptures, standing about 17 feet tall. It is intended to represent David the shepherd boy immediately before he fought Goliath, armed only with his wits and his sling. David was likely a real historical person who was the first king of a united Israel, having his capital in Jerusalem (often called the “City of David”). He lived in or about 1000 B.C. David was the father of Solomon, who built the first temple in Jerusalem. Solomon was wise. Your coaches are also wise. Listen to them. To hear what the wise Coach Thomas and his wrestlers have to say about temples and religion click here .
David (1502 AD)
Wrestlers have a very different readiness stance than do people like David who fight with slings. Head up, back straight, knees bent, weight forward on leading foot, elbows in. If you missed the commentary and video on Stance then click here.
Roman Sculpture
This is a Roman copy of an earlier Greek bronze sculpture. The Greek original was created in about 460 – 450 B.C.
Regardless of your genetic makeup your body is your temple.
Honor it. Look after it. Don’t smoke. Cut back on junk food. You must defend yourself from things that harm you.
Discobolus