This video clip from the movie, “Troy” (2004) presents the battle in which Achilles unexpectedly defeats the enormous Boagrius, reminiscent of the classic biblical underdog tale of David and Goliath. This ancient type of battle, referred to as “single combat,” is when two single warriors battle one another as representatives of their two warring people.There are well known instances of this practices from biblical times through the Middle Ages, including in ancient Greece and Egypt. Read the verses introducing this battle from 1 Samuel 17:
4 And there went out a champion from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath…8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them: ‘Why do ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. 9 If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.’