Champion warfare
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Champion warfare refers to a type of battle, most commonly found in the epic poetry and myth of ancient history, in which the outcome of the conflict is determined by single combat, an individual duel between the best soldiers ("champions") from each opposing army. Champion warfare can also refer to a battle in which armies actually engage, but champions within the armies fight so effectively as to single-handedly carry the sway of battle, such as in the Iliad.
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 (Book of Kings).
- Champion warfare is a common theme in the early books of Livy's history of Rome Ab Urbe Condita ("From the Founding of the City"), including the story of the famous triplets of the Horatii and Curiatii families and the great champion Horatius Cocles.
- 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.
- Champion warfare is a common theme in Irish Mythology, notably in the Ulster Cycle.
- Science fiction writer Fredric Brown wrote the story "Arena" in which a single human and a single malevolent alien fight to the death as the champions of their respective species.