Laudator Temporis Acti

Diodorus Siculus 17.100-101 (tr. Robin Waterfield):

[100.1] When Alexander had recovered from his wound, he sacrificed to the gods to thank them for saving his life and arranged great banquets for his friends. In the course of the celebrations, an unusual incident occurred which should not go unrecorded. [2] Among the invited guests was a Macedonian called Coragus, an exceptionally strong man who had often distinguished himself in battle, and, under the influence of alcohol, he challenged Dioxippus to single combat—Dioxippus being an Athenian athlete who had won crowns in the most notable games. [3] Naturally, the guests at the symposium stoked their rivalry, and Dioxippus accepted the challenge. Alexander named a day for the contest, and when the time came for the duel to take place, tens of thousands of men gathered to watch it.

[4] The Macedonians and Alexander backed Coragus because he was one of them, while the Greeks were on Dioxippus' side. The Macedonian stepped up for the competition fully armed and arrayed in expensive armour, but the Athenian was naked, with an oiled body, and carried only a moderately sized club. [5] Both men were remarkably well-built and exceptionally strong, so what was about to take place was expected to be little short of a battle between gods. Since the Macedonian's physique and gleaming armour inspired terror, he was taken to be the image of Ares, while Dioxippus, with his exceptional strength, his athletic training, and his choice of a club as his weapon, resembled Heracles.

[6] As they closed in on each other, the Macedonian hurled his javelin, but there was still quite a gap between them, and the Greek merely leant aside a little to let it fly harmlessly past. Then the Macedonian couched his pike and advanced, but as soon as he was close the Greek struck the pike with his club and broke it. [7] After these two failures, the Macedonian resorted to his sword, and he was just drawing it when the Greek pounced. With his left hand he seized the Macedonian’s right hand, which was drawing the sword, and at the same time he used his other hand to force his opponent off balance and knock him off his feet. [8] Once he was down on the ground, the Greek stood over him, with his foot on his neck, raised his club, and looked expectantly at the spectators.

[101.1] The crowd erupted, partly because this was not the result they had expected, and partly in appreciation of the extraordinary courage the Greek had displayed, and the king ordered him to let the Macedonian live. He then brought the performance to an end and left, fuming at the Macedonian's defeat. [2] Dioxippus released his fallen opponent. He had won a famous victory, and he left the arena bedecked with wreaths by his fellow Greeks, who felt that he had earned glory not just for himself but for all Greeks.