Damarchus

The Boxer of Quirinal (Museo delle Terme, Rome)

Damarchus or Damarch (Greek: Δάμαρχος; fl. ~400 BC) was a victorious Olympic boxer from Parrhasia (Arcadia) said to have changed his shape into that of a wolf at the sacrifice of Lycaean Zeus, becoming a man after nine years.^[1]

References

1. ^ Pausanias. Description of Greece, [1] - "As to the boxer, by name Damarchus, an Arcadian of Parrhasia, I cannot believe (except, of course, his Olympic victory) what romancers say about him, how he changed his shape into that of a wolf at the sacrifice of Lycaean (Wolf) Zeus, and how nine years after he became a man again. Nor do I think that the Arcadians either record this of him, otherwise it would have been recorded as well in the inscription at Olympia, which runs:-- This statue was dedicated by Damarchus, son of Dinytas, Parrhasian by birth from Arcadia."