Milo of Croton | Photo: Marie-Lan NguyenC / ative Commons Attribution 2.5 Generic
One of the most famous athletes of the ancient world was Milo of Croton. He was a Greek, and his fame even reached Rome and survived for centuries. Milo was a legendary wrestler who lived in the 6th century BCE and was a six-time winner of the Olympic Games and a six-time winner of the Delphi Games. His strength and skills were so impressive that his figure became an inspiration in Roman culture, and his exploits were even written about in Rome.
One of the most famous anecdotes about Milo is the story in which he allegedly carried a full-grown bull on his shoulders. Another story is his tragic end: while trying to tear apart a tree trunk with his bare hands, he got stuck, and at night he was attacked by wolves.
The Roman historian Pliny the Elder wrote about Milo, among others, in his work “Natural History”, where he mentions his incredible strength and extraordinary achievements that have remained in human memory for centuries.
- Pliny the Elder, Natural History, XXXVII
