230 SYLVA FLORIFERA, 



than confidence. Thus, at Tauris, the wor- 

 ship of Diana, was converted into one of 

 terror, by having human sacrifices offered up 

 to her ; thus, transforming, what was in simple 

 times intended to benefit mankind, into a 

 curse, by the craft of those who perverted 

 simple prayers to the profit of themselves, 

 a temple and a city, where imposts were not 

 only levied to support the priests, but all 

 strangers landing there, or driven on their 

 shores by storms, were cruelly immolated. 



Garlands of pine leaves were awarded to 

 the victors in the combats and sacred games of 

 the Isthmia, which were celebrated by the 

 Greeks every fifth year, and observed and 

 held so sacred and inviolable, that even a 

 public calamity could not prevent the cele- 

 bration. These festivals received their name 

 from the isthmus of Corinth, where they were 

 observed as early as 1326 years before the 

 Christian era ; and when Corinth was de- 

 stroyed by Mummius*, the Roman general, 

 the games were observed with the usual so- 

 lemnity, and the Sicyonians were entrusted 



* Mummius, when he sent the precious statues and ex- 

 quisite paintings of the Grecian artists to Rome from 

 Corinth, threatened the masters of the vessels which con- 

 veyed them, that if their cargoes were injured or destroyed 

 they should furnish new articles at their own expense. 



