From 4o…

In ancient times, such as during the period of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, full-grown cows were significantly smaller than modern cattle. Based on archaeological evidence (bones and remains), historians and archaeozoologists estimate the following sizes: • Height: Approximately 100–120 cm (3.3–4 feet) at the shoulder. • Weight: Between 200–400 kg (440–880 lbs), depending on the breed, sex, and regional conditions.

For comparison: • Modern cattle like Holsteins (dairy cows) stand around 140–150 cm at the shoulder and weigh 700–900 kg. • Some smaller modern breeds, like Dexter cattle, resemble ancient cattle in stature, with a height of 90–120 cm and weight of 300–450 kg.

Factors Influencing Smaller Size in Ancient Cattle 1. Nutritional Limitations: Grazing conditions were less controlled, and fodder quality was inconsistent. 2. Genetics: Ancient cattle were not selectively bred for size like modern cattle. 3. Purpose: Cattle were primarily used for labor (draught animals) and small-scale milk production, rather than for meat.

Ancient cattle were functional animals suited to the agricultural practices and available resources of their time, so their size reflected these limitations.

Please don't post LLM output as comments here. It is helpful for commenters to apply at least a modicum of effort to ensuring that the factual statements they make are correct rather than just authoritatively phrased bullshit.

Cows and other animals have been intentionally bred to become bigger.

If you look at medieval illustrations of shepherds, one thing that strikes you is just how small all the animals are. Even in relation to the medieval humans who were significantly shorter than us.

It had its advantages - for example, a leaner, smaller animal can walk long distances and won't get stuck in swampy ground. But it doesn't give you a lot of anything - hide, meat, milk... Nowadays, we have huge animals, which nevertheless have to be transported by trucks. No longer capable of walking 50 miles from the lowland to the mountains to graze.

FYI: the third url links to an AI generated image.

Cows have gotten a lot bigger. That specific legend about Milo may be embellished, but his existence as an exceptional athlete is attested by multiple authors.

The point is really: Classical Greek athletes were doing a lot of recognizable strength training. "Halteres" are basically stone dumbbells (in Spanish the derived word "halterofilia" is the modern name for Olympic weightlifting).

You have other examples like Bybon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bybon) where we have an inscribed rock with a handle carved into it explicitly to use as a weightlifting feat.

This was definitely part of the culture and people knew what trained athletes looked like.