Champion warfare

Champion warfare in literature

• Numerous instances of champion warfare can be observed in Homer's Iliad, most notably the climactic battle between Achilles and Hector, although there are many more.
• Champion warfare has numerous examples in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh.
• Champion warfare is a common theme in the early books of Livy's history of Rome Ab Urbe Condita , including the story of the famous triplets of the Horatii and Curiatii families and the great champion Horatius Cocles.
• Every large-scale battle in the Chinese Water Margin begins with champion combat.
• Champion warfare is a common occurrence in Indian epics such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The latter's fate is decisively determined by Rama, and his nemesis Ravana
• In the Bible, the battle between David and Goliath is an example of champion warfare. Group champion combat, where a certain number of champions from each side battle, also existed, as shown in the Battle of Gibeon, where General Abner, loyal to King Ish-bosheth, had twelve champions duel twelve warriors chosen from the ranks of King David's army by General Joab.
• Champion warfare is a common theme in Irish Mythology, notably in the Ulster Cycle, with Cú Chulainn fighting many duels.
• In the Old High German Hildebrandslied, champion warfare between a father and his son are the main theme.
• American science fiction writer Fredric Brown wrote the 1944 story "Arena" in which a single human and a single malevolent alien fight to the death as the champions of their respective species.