Dioxippus

The two sides were about to break out into full-fledged combat in the camp when something Homeric came across the men.

A Macedonian soldier named Carragas, a man who distinguished himself in battle many times, challenged Dioxippus of Athens to single combat.

Dioxippus was an Olympic champion in the Pankration, the ancient world's near-anything-goes fighting event.

Alexander set a date for the contest, and an enormous crowd turned out to watch.

Caragus arrived in full armor, carrying a javelin, a long Macedonian lance, and a sword.

Dioxippus walked out fully oiled up, wearing absolutely nothing, and carrying nothing but a wooden club like the divine Heracles had come to visit.

Caragus threw the javelin, and Dioxippus swayed out of its path.

Caragus leveled the lance and charged, and Dioxippus shattered the shaft with one blow of the club.

And to those who were alarmed at dreams, he said that they did not regard what they do while they are awake, but being a great fuss, what they fancy they see while they are asleep.

Once at the Olympic Games, when the herald proclaimed, "Dioxippus is the conqueror of men," he said, "He is the conqueror of slaves.

I am the conqueror of men." End of chapter two, part one.

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