Melankomas of Caria, d. c. a.d. 70, ancient Greek boxer. Known for his exceptional beauty, conditioning, and endurance, he is said to have always held his arms up high in defense, thus protecting his face, and to have defeated his opponents by exhausting them rather than through punching or hitting. He won an Olympic boxing championship (a.d. 49) and several other competitions, and allegedly never lost a match. His exploits are known chiefly through the discourses of Dio Chrysostum.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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