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to invest these institutions with the deepest and most extensive influence 

 on tlie human mintl, they were stamped with the seal of religious su- 

 f)erstition, and consecrated as solemn and awful acts of devotion to 

 different deities. The Objmpkin games were devoted to Jupiter, those 

 of Pijthia to Jpollo. 



These periodical exercises fully answered the intentions of the sages 

 who planned tlu'ui, and \\ho seem well to have understood how to fur- 

 nish motives for human action, in their own time; different ones being 

 probably required for different nations and periods. They called forth 

 the utmost energies of body and mind among the Grecian youth, and 

 filled their martial ranks with heroes, both able to defend and prepared 

 to die for their country. The actors on these scenes were, during 

 the purest ages, men of the most exalted rank in society, or citizens of 

 the most virtuous and independent character ; but as luxury and cor- 

 ruption advanced, mercenaries were introduced, the primitive and 

 patriotic motives had ceased, and the only incentives to the annual 

 celebration of the games, were luxurious and selfish gratification. 



The gymnastic, or athletic exercises of men who contended naked, 

 and on foot, at the Olympic games, long preceded the Horse or chariot 

 races, the former of which dates from the twenty-third, the latter from 

 the twenty-fourth Olympiad. — This is natural, and in accordance with 

 the gradual advance of riches and civilization. History teaches us 

 that Horses were scarce in Greece, during the early ages, and the means 

 insufficient, of breeding and maintaining them in any considerable 

 numbers, Avhence they were ill furnished with cavalry in their wars. 

 To increase and improve the breed, were doubtless the original motives 

 for the introduction of horse-races at the Olympic games. 



It is curious to trace in the records of these early ages, the fundamen- 

 tal principles of our present racing system. The Greeks, situated in 

 the vicinity of those countries which produce the Courser, or Horse 

 formed for speed, selected, with the utmost care, those of the highest 

 repute and finest form, for the purpose of breeding and replenishing' 

 their own country. That they entertained very just ideas of the shape 

 in a Horse most conducive to speed, is sufficiently evinced by the 

 metaphorical application of the word kele, which, according to Suidas, 



served 



