New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-19
From The Philadelphia Record.
TACHED TO FIGHTING GL

| nh,
! ing nations or individuals is largely determines
| by the scientific character Of the weapons en-
! poved. exceptional interest will attach to a m.
| cOycry very recently made concerning one Of m.
most primitive but effective weapons used by m.
ancients when they engaged in the art Of self
defence.
! In the necessarily short-range fighting OF tn.
| ancients when they cOntcnded with sword,
spcars javelinS. bows. arrows and bolts sling,
| and metal balls flung in the defence o, fortja
cations even the fist occasionally served Dur.
| nose in combat and the private soldier among
some peoples was reckoned all the more efficient
| for being skilled pusilist The means which
/ were taken by professional puglllStS to SHIELD
/ and also arm the nst in the game which was
the crucial pugilistic test in the arena Of cOur.
ago endurance strength and skill land appr,
pirate measures for wre itin :. gladiatorial CON.
bat chariot and other ra, ing) were the result q
/ popular recognition that the superb qualities
! rvinccd in this and other athletic games in.
| urod 10 the benefit Of the State in the normal
! condition Of the ancient word-that Of war
! II is only within a few months however tha.
| the exact character of the weapon used BY The
| ancents as sometimes accessory 70 the male!
fist has been discovered through investigator.
! Of the distinguished American arch9ologist and
/ phjloIoeist Or Daniel g. Brnton. whose atten.
/ ton was attracted To an instrument OF not posi-
/ lively known purpose, hn' specimen OF "nica
| is among the collection OF the university
/ Pennsylvania.
This instrument of which there are man7
specimers extant was until then supposed
/ have been used for pulling tn" bow and ''
| various other purposes. Not seeming 70 MN y
rn..t rho mechanical requirements OF any Of rs
alleged uses. pr Brinton finally came TO he
/ conclusion from minut" examination Of II. that
! il was nothing more nor less thah the laMel
| murmcx (Angliciz"d myrmeN ~ the ''reeks ana
! from them adopted by the KJmans-the sever
est IN fact the dcadliest. weapon used IN ne
/ rugilistic contests Of ancient times
] n IF the boxing ElpNPS d WA
/ ,s we know from ancient authors. the hands
/ the cornbatants were merely s"athei IN 'ousl
/ hid. bound In place 10y thongs. ana suppe'
r ,n.ufad hv "A covering II small knobs ~ lead
iron. The whole being known as the crstus ms
instrument now aScertaiu"G To be the N.Y.
mex. was used by being iN"l % the cnstus ali
. thus formed on the hands Of poWefiuI man
deadly WEAPON.
Many such specimens as tn" one IN the In'
y.rsifv collection have been found IN ancet'
Crock Roman and Etru~ean tombs. hut. as a.
/ r,ady mentioned. their puip1S" had uh,l ld.!
/ I.-n enormously a. 'rb"d to several Wiey or
f-reni destinations. TN" specimen I'D 'he ,A'
/ y.rsltv orntnantcl with phalllc designs mas
/ three massive prongS Of bronze. when WIZ
| powerful blow could he driven into the BODY d
/ A man II is 50 contrived that IL can be rlsiF
bound 10 a c;cStus. 10 prevent MS "iop.ihs "''
tinu.
The prongs on similar specimens vary
number from three 10 five ana possess d!fe'eh.
degrees of sharpness. rs derived rom orls'1
manufacture independent ~ the wear and fR
90 which they have been subjected IN the ''1'ss
Of time. 49,
becoming satisfied with the correctness q hs
1i,u - the purpose Of the instrument DR. Bn'
ton directed toward II the attention % fro'es'I
Culin Mrs Cornelius Stevenson. and seven
other antiQuarianS. 10 whom he gave Qua
evidence - the correctness II his view by e'
tcinpnriZiug a mild SOFT - c1stus binding N'
my rmcx on n and illustrating It's use. -
however. nothing has been heard ~ any aC01..'
10 the group. 10 is presumab" mat l)r bfIn~A
di not proceed % extremes with ms de'a0"'
strnfion.
The doctor then published short statement
on the subject IN tn" Bulletin ~ he Museum
~ Science and Art Of the University. "m1"
had the effect of bringing many tntiquaiAss
who read II io his way of thinking as 20 'n y,
destination Of the object described It, hlni'e"
however. was soon mad" aware thlt his dehOa
stration Was not sufficiently complete for pun.
satisfaction for even Sir John Evans "Iys
him IL these objects had been really myrmeM'
| think that We should have found them TePT
scented Oh ancient statues. Il,
This being a point undeniably well taken ~.
one which would doubtless occur 90 many o.".'
persons besides Sir John Evans. DR. b''n"n
when i'm Paris in September Of last year "as
close examination of the marbles ol -,
Louvre. with the sole purpose of discoveries d.
example il any existed OF thu my rWex on w
hands Of "A statue of an ancient puSillst n H.,
pains were rewarded 10y finding there. III '
Sale DIES CarNatldeS, a iuu-lcnSth iis"nt "A
marble Of "A pugilist. marked 40. ~. ana ehl"n s,
"Athlctc. Nainqurur au Pugllat a Ncto'.o
pucilst This figure represents the con'u''a ..
as having the c;rstuS on both hands. ana ''
mounted by the deadly myrmex. The WORK ~,
Greek origin. found in Rome As was the 's ~.
with thousands Of works Of art executed III u"
palmy days of Greece. =,
The question. therefore. Of the destination u
the object previously called bow -puller az.
various other names indicating its supposed p'
pose is now definitely settled. The specimen H.
the University collection. as we'll rs other Sp. So,
mems clseW here To bc found. is now deinohs''"a
ed beyond cavil to be the mNrmeX oilc' "'"
toned by writer's Of ancient times. n
Incidentally il is we'll To note here id.'
IiAnrSltN OF NlIItl"