OF COCK-FIGHTING. 



of their anceftors, nor yet for their children : *• 

 fetting before his foldiers every motive to excite 

 their valor, which they had fuperior to thefe 

 birds. This feftival was ftiied Axext^uwv aytav; and 

 became anniverfary. 



The Cock-pit, or TnXfcj was in the theatre 

 where the public games were exhibited, and was 

 in form of a fquare ftage, not round, like the 

 modern pits. The game of Cock-fighting lafted 

 but one day; for originally it was confidered partly 

 as a religious and partly as a political inftitution, 

 i But the cuftom was foon abufed, and Cock- 

 matches grew frequent among private people. 

 The barber Meidias and Callias fought a main: 

 thefe gentlemen were p in all probability, alfo cele- 

 brated Cock-feeders, or at left Quail-feeders, be^ 

 ing called O^Tjyr^oso* -, for it is certain that the 

 antients prepared their birds for battle : great fums 

 were layed on the event; and the Lanifia> or 

 Cockers, frequently totally ruined by their pur- 

 fuits of the diverfion f. 



The cuftom fpread foon, as is fufpefted, from 

 Athens to Pergunius and glnoas. In the firft were 

 annual Cock-matches : and their neighbours, the 

 Dardami Troasy feem equally addicted to the di- 

 verfion, as is evident from their coins, which had 

 on them two fighting cocks. 



Om two antient gems, in the collection of Mr, 



* ^Elian. Far. HiJL ii. c. 20. 

 ■J- Columella) lib. viii. c. z. 



10 milium 



