However, given that Pankration came from an era only just developing writing and the alphabet, there is no documented history tracing its true lineage. In all likelihood, it was born from angry and bored former soldiers/youths with a thirst for combat that extended into sports. A thirst that boxing and wrestling could not satisfy. Pankration’s popularity soared over the ages, and local competitions were held at various games throughout Hellas.
These included the Panhellenic games. Matches were always held during festival performances, especially at Olympia (the Olympic Games), at Delphi (the Pythian Games), Isthmia (the Isthmian games) and Nemea (the Nemean games). Pankration was first included in the Olympic Games in 648 B.C. (the 33rd Olympiad).