History of Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling

Oldest known evidence—2650 B.C. in Egypt and Assyria

The history of oil wrestling links straight back to 2650 B.C. with evidence both from Egypt and Assyria and about the same era. The Babelonic body of evidence, a tiny bronze, excavated near the Chafadji-temple. It is as clear as plain day-light that the bronze concern oilwrestlers: both athletes are pictured with oilvessels on their head.

The oldest known proof of the existence of oilwrestling in Egypt is in limestone from the tomb of Ptahhoteb near Sakkara from the 5th dynasty (about 2650 BC) from the same period as the Chafadji-bronze.

Another appealing proof is about 4000 years old and painted like a cartoon in a tomb near Beni Hasan in Egypt. The deceased who occupied this tomb must have been a famous oilwrestler in his time!

On the first picture we see the greasing of the wrestler, the oil stored in a reed stem. After that, the wrestling started. The pictures could have been taken yesterday during a Kirkpinar! The last picture down shows the unchanged ´three step triumph´ of oiled wrestling.

From this period we can trace the basic rules.

Centuries later the Iranians conquest Egypt and Persian shah-kings occupied the throne of the Pharao´s.

1065-283 B.C. Oilwrestling in Iran

The history of the oilwrestling tournaments as we know today links back to the Persian Mythical Era which according to Ferdowsi's Shahnameh started 1065 B.C. The legendary pehlivan of this era is called Rostam, a hero constantly saving his country from the evil forces.

The ceremonial start of oilwrestling, called by its Persian name "Peshrev" has clear links with old Iranian istitutes as the zurkhane, literally "house of strength". The building consists of a court, around which the men who will perform arrange themselves, and a gallery for the ostad ("master") or morshed (spiritual leader) and the musicians. Nowadays, the musical accompaniment consists of a drum and recitation of portions of Ferdowsi's Shahname. There are various rhythms employed, and a variety of movements associated with them, including displays of strength in manipulating heavy objects (such as weights and chains) and acrobatics.

Here the origin of the peshrev has to be found, by some considered to be a warming up and greet-the-audience ceremony, to others a participatory form of dance. Certain different from the usual step-right, step-left, step-right, kick-left, step-left, kick-right dance found all over the area.

238 B.C.-1346 A.D. Greco-Roman Oilwrestling

The word ´´Pehlivan´´ for a wrestler was first used in the period when the Parthian (238 BC - 224 AD) expelled the Greeks from Iran.

378 A.D. Huns defeat Romans near Edirne

The Huns arriving on the fringes of the Roman Empire in the late fourth century, riding their horses out of the great steppes of Asia into Germany and France. As they approached the Black Sea and conquered the Ostrogoths, they also drove the Visigoths across the Danube into the Roman Empire and caused the crisis that led to the astounding defeat of the Roman army under the Emperor Valens near Adrianople (Edirne) in 378 AD.

The Huns were fanatic wrestlers as well as horsemen. After securing a strong position on the Roman Side of the Danube the Huns were checked by the Roman army of general Aspar in Thrace (442).

In 447 Pehlivan Attila came again into Thrace and stopped only when Emperor Thodosius II, begged for terms. During the negotiations a Roman-Hun wrestling competition was held in Thermopylae. The dispute was actually settled by a wresting match and winner Attila accepted payment of all tribute in arrears and a new annual tribute of 2,100 pounds of gold and territory south of the Danube.

Three years later Emperor Theodosius fell from his horse and died. His successor, Marcian (450-457), refused to pay Attila. The Hun decided to leave it, as the sister of the Roman Emperor Valentinian, the lovely Honoria, sended her ring and a message to the King of the Huns and asked Attila to become her champion. Atilla agreed with this marriage proposal. As the sister of the Roman Emperor was put in prison, Atilla decided to take care of her dowry. So he crossed the Rhine, took Metz, sacked Rheims, Mainz, Strasbourg, Cologne, Worms, Trier and put Orleans under siege. When Attila invaded Italy, Pope Leo I speeded to Northern Italy to meet the Great Pehlivan and pay him off to spare Rome and abandon Papal Soil.

As Honoria was not available, next year Attila took a new, young, beautiful bride named Ildico. The wedding day was spent with one of the greatest wrestlingmatch of this time. The party went on when the King of the Huns took his new bride to bed that night. That night he died - drowned in his own nosebleed. The empire of the Huns dissipated nearly as quickly as its most famous leader. In 454 the Ostrogoths and other Germanic tribes revolted and the sons of Attila, who had quarreled among themselves, could not deal with the crisis. In the words of Bury, the Huns were "scattered to the winds."

1346 Oilwrestling for Sultan and Shah

During the period Islam was brought into Asia Minor, spirituality and philosophy became part of the physical garment of the pehlivan. Oilwrestling was established as a sport on it's own. In Iran and the Ottoman Empire alike wrestling became the national sport. In Iran wrestling grew to the customary institution of the zurkhane strong house, where people go to socialise and engage in athletic exercise. The wrestler is the strong-man in popular culture (in Persian the term is "big neck"), but he is also the pahlavan, the knightly hero who is a free-living spirit and is generous and loyal.

The year 1360 is adapted by the organizers of the Edirne Kırkpınar as date Ottoman soldiers started to organize annual oilwrestling tournaments in Kırkpınar, a wrestlingfield "within Samona village". According to the Guinness Book of World Records this legend made the Kırkpınar world's oldest continuously sanctioned sporting competition.

The last bout between the two finalists lasted all night as neither was able to defeat the other. They were found dead the next morning, their bodies still intertwined. They were buried underneath a nearby fig tree, whereupon their comrades headed to conquer Edirne.

After the conquest, the soldiers came upon another fig tree, surrounded by a crystal-clear spring, so they renamed the surrounding meadow (which until then had been known as Ahirköy) Kırkpınar, which translates from Turkish as "forty springs" or "forty sources."

To commemorate the heroism of the conquering warriors, a wrestling tournament was re-enacted annually at this site, and the oldest still-contested sanctioned sporting competition in the world began.

Whatever tales, myths and stories. There has always been a common respect for the oilwrestlers. The pehlivan's being stronger than anybody, having a well built body, clothed in heavy leather pants.

Up till today the wrestlers pour olive oil onto their bodies. And still you see a younger wrestler defeating an older wrestler kiss the older wrestler's hand.

According to historian Burhan-katia, the word pehlivan was also used for an officer, governor or huge and honest person. From the 16th century on the term was exclusively used in the Ottoman Empire for the wrestling sportsman.

It was the time of Süleyman, known throughout the known world as 'The Magnificent', even among such big-name-players as Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor -- ruling Spain, Germany and parts of Italy), Henry VIII (the Tudor king of England), and Francis I (Valois king of France).

Süleyman, in his own land known as "kanuni", the Legislator, reigned between 1520 and 1566 and was succeeded by his son Selim II, for whom Sinan build the Selimiye in Edirne, considered to be Turkey's most beautiful mosque.

But above all it was the era of Murat III (1546-1595). Under him the Ottoman Empire reached its largest geographical area in history.

In 1590 a peace agreement was reached between Murat III and the Persian Shah. The model of the wrestlingpants go back to this period. The model is still same for the Iranian "pahlivan" and the Turkish "pehlivan", except that the Turkish wrestlingpants are made of leather and are called "kispet", while the Iranian Pahlivan wears a "pirpet", made of silk.

Famous wrestlers from Iran came to Istanbul to compete with the Ottoman Champions, and the Turkish champs were invited to Persia to show their strength.

Collecting strong men

Before 1582, all recruits came from prisoners of war, the devsirme, or other slave sources. With that devsirme, the very best and strongest guys were recruited from all the provinces of the Ottoman Empire.

Only the strongest and most healtiest boys had a chance to become a Pehlivan. Always known to be free enough to be honest and through history trusted for his words and behaviours.

The influence of Iranians on the sport must have been huge, as in Turkey the traditional start of an oilwrestlingbout was and is still called "peshrev" in the Farsi language. And whatever language reforms, in Turkey a wrestler is still called "pehlivan", Persian for hero.

Everywhere in the Ottoman Empire were wrestling championships held. Every city and village had its annual wrestling, like nowadays. Wrestling occurred in a variety of contexts, including social and ceremonial events. There was wrestling on religious festival days, during special evenings of the Moslem fasting-month of Ramadan, on agricultural events, circumcisions and weddings. On special occasions charity wrestling competitions were organized outside the palaces. Only the best wrestlers were accepted in training to become members of the elite Janissary Corps.

1867 oilwrestling for French Impératrice Eugenie

When the Ottoman Sultan visited France in 1867, oilwrestlers were part of his entourage and Impératrice Eugenie visited the wrestling-tournament. Wrestling was tough, but oilwrestling was even harder. It was considered the most difficult sport in the world. In these days the expression ´Fort comme une Turc´ (Strong as a Turk) revived from the crusade-days.

1912-1924 Virantekke

After Balkan war of 1912 the place of the original Kırkpınar of Oiled wrestling was left. The annual match had to be relocated from Kırkpınar (near Samona) to Virantekke, now the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint on the Bulgarian border.

1924 Edirne

After 12 years the annual oilwrestling competition of the Kırkpınar moved again to another place. Since 1924 bouts are held on the Sarayiçi island near Edirne. The last Ottoman Sultan went in exile to Malta. In what was left over of that great empire almost everything traditional had to be replaced or westernized. The language was "purified" by replacing words of Persian or Arabic origin for mostly French. Even a sport prevailing any western sport was at stake. . Atatürk thought to put the wrestling organizations directly under his own sponsorship. He ordered Selim Sirri Tarcan (1874-1956) to restyle oilwrestling according his guidelines according sport in the new Turkish Republic.

So the winner of the Edirne was no longer "Bashpehlivan of the Kırkpınar" but "Champion of Turkey". And instead of all those traditional prizes as that Altin Kemer (Golden Belt) and all those horses, donkeys and camels the winners should have a nice, modern medal. Just as they do in the rest of the modern world.

It was rumoured no Pehlivan would show up when instead of gold and live-stock only a title and medal would be given "because they do so in Europe".

The former officer responsible for sport in the new Republic had to back down and allowed the winning wrestler in the highest category also a "Baspehlivan of the Year" award, to be a horse, camel, sheep, duck, whatever the organizers could obtain.. Selim Sirri Tarcan also put restraint on the Golden Belt: Only for the Edirne Kırkpınar and solely if a "Turkish Champion" was winner for three consecutive years he should become the owner of such a valuable object. The weight of the Altin Kemer was limited to a topmost of 1.450 gram 14 carat gold.

The Kırkpınar wrestling competitions of Edirne were still held under the protectorate of the agha. The Agha welcomes his guests and puts them up at the hotel, has dinners, and organizes festivities. Also, he hands out the prizes to the winners in their categories. Just before the final of the Kırkpınar, the organizing agha holds an auction. The bids are placed on a ram or sheep. The highest bidder becomes the ´agha´ of the next year's Kirkpinar and is the number one sponsor.

When in 1928 an economical depressions hit Turkey and no agha could be found, Selim Sirri Tarcan made the Turkish Red Cross (Kizilay) and the Çocuk Esirgeme Kurumu (Institute of Child Care) responsible for the organization and hosting of the guests. In the old days an agha was able to stop a match, disqualify wrestlers if necessary, and even to cancel the wrestling events all together. Nowadays it is the organizing committee who make such decisions. Red Cross and Child Care would organize the Edirne Kirkpinar for 36 years. Then the organization was made a municipality services.

1964 Edirne Kirkpinar municipality services

In 1964 the mayor of Edirne, Tahsin Sipka, signed an act that the Edirne Municipality was responsible for the organization of the Edirne Kirkpinar. That same year mayor Sipka made the Edirne Kirkpinar a municipality services.

During a year about 300 different oilwrestling games are held in Turkey. They host 10 million spectators on average.

1975 introduction of time

Until 1975, there was no time limit to wrestling in Kirkpinar. The pehlivans would wrestle sometimes one, sometimes two days, until they could establish superiority to one another. Wrestling games would go on from 9am in the morning until dusk and the ones that could not beat each other would go on the next day. After 1975, wrestling was limited to 40 minutes in baspehlivan category. If there is no winner within these limits, the pehlivans wrestle for 15 minutes with scored recorded. The ones that can score points in this last part are accepted as the winners. In other categories, the wrestling time is limited to 30 minutes. If there is no winner, 10 minutes of score wrestling follows.

1996

On 20 June 1996 the Turkish Traditional Sport Branches Federation (Geleneksel Spor Dallari Federasyonu) was accepted by the Turkish Ministry. Riding, oily wrestling, aba wrestling and other traditional sports were assembled in the same federation under Alper Yazoglu.

1997 Oilwrestling hits Europe in Amsterdam

During the 636th annual Kırkpınar of Edirne, Agha (mc) Hüseyin Sahin agreed with Veyis Güngör (chairman of Türkevi Amsterdam) and Mohamed el-Fers (MokumTV Amsterdam) that they would unite their fordes to promote historical oilwrestling in Europe and the world. Three days El-Fers filmed almost every match. On the September 4th 1996 MokumTV started a weekly program on the A1 Amsterdam channel. It proved to be the start of fast growing respect in Europe for this unique and highly esthetic ´mother of all sports´.

The late Hüseyin Sahin said during his speech, attended by Turkish president Süleyman Demirel, Edirne-mayor Hamdi Sedefçi, Veyis Güngör and Mohamed el-Fers that the KIRKPINAR will exceeds the borders of Turkey and unite the world.

The champion wrestlers who attended that 636th Edirne Kırkpınar applauded the news of an Amsterdam Kırkpınar. In his speech at the award ceremony President Süleyman Demirel said that Turkey would continue to raise world-famous wrestlers. Mr. Veyis Güngör told the press that day that the enthusiast reactions in Europe proved that this traditional Turkish sport is not only everlasting, but thanks to television and video, is gaining popularity under non-Turkish people as well. The organizers of the coming Amsterdam Kırkpınar received the days after the news was released about 950 letters of oilwrestlers throughout Turkey who would enter competition for the title of euro-champion of the Amsterdam Kırkpınar.

The Mother of All Sports came in 1997 for the first ever to Western Europe when the European Championleague were held in Amsterdam. No less than 22 television teams covered the event, and scenes from the Amsterdam Kırkpınar were shown at CNN and the BBC alike. The 2nd European Oil Wrestling Championship held in Amsterdam had already a final with 42 wrestlers from Turkey, the Netherlands and other European countries. Winner was Cengiz Elbeye, Edirne Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Champion. Addressing the ceremony held upon the start of the matches, Erkut Onart, the Turkish Consul General in the Netherlands, said that he believed the friendship between the Turkish society and the European countries is intensified when these kinds of cultural values are brought to Europe. In the world of oilwrestling Amsterdam became the most important annual after Edirne.

1998

Oilwrestling accepted as special branche by the Turkish Olympic Wrestling Federation. Sport and Politics, as in 1996 the Turkish Traditional Sport Branches Federation (Geleneksel Spor Dallari Federasyonu) was official accepted as federation representing oilwrestling and other traditional Turkish sports.

1999 Doping control

In 1999 doping control was introduced for the first time introduced by the Turkish Olympic Wrestling Federation during the Edirne Kirkpinar.

2000 Foreign oilwrestler rejected in Edirne

Oilwrestling is a growing sport, not limited to Turkey only. Sad enough it is difficult for foreign wrestlers to enter this National Turkish Championship. In 2000 Dutch oilwrestler Melvin Witteveens entry in Edirne was rejected, while Kadir Yilmaz, beaten by Witteveen some weeks earlier at the Amsterdam Kirkpinar, was allowed to participate due to his double Turko/Dutch nationalities.

As the winners of the categories of the Amsterdam Kırkpınar in Holland are considered to be European Champions, this creates the strange fact that according international standards the Amsterdam Kirkpinar tops Edirne, as latter being the National championship of Turkey only, repudiating non-Turkish entries.

Before each bout, the wrestlers pour olive oil over their entire bodies, and the matches take place in an open, grassy field, with the contestants naked except for trousers made of leather, which extend to just above the knee. Victory is achieved when one wrestler either pins the other to the ground (as in many other forms of wrestling) or lifts his opponent above his shoulders.

The event attracted little attention outside of Turkey until the 1990s, when the style of wrestling began to spread to Western Europe; it has become particularly popular in the Netherlands, which now hosts its own annual version of the tournament, attracting participants from throughout Europe. Yağlı güreş wrestling matches are also held in Japan.

It is now a Guinness World Record for the longest running sports competition