22 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



refinement. The public games were another powerful bond of nationality. 

 The grand games were four ; the Olympic^ Delphic^ ]Sfem£an^2ii\di Isthmian^ 

 all possessing at first only a local importance, but afterwards raised to 

 the rank of national festivals. They became a centre of union for the 

 most distant states, for to them repaired visitors from all parts of the 

 countiy, by land and by sea. 



The Olympic games were celebrated in the grove of Altis, in Pisatis. 

 They derive their name from the sacred edifices called Olympia, which were 

 situated near the grove. The games were held at intervals, of five 

 years. They lasted from the 11th to the 15th day of the month of 

 Ilekatombseon, at the time of full moon after the summer solstice. 

 They were celebrated in honor of the Olympian Jupiter. During the 

 solemnities hostilities were universally suspended. Racing originally formed 

 the leading contest, though, at a later period, other exercises were added. 

 Special judges were appointed to decide who had won the prize, and if they 

 failed to agree, the case was submitted to the grand Olympic Council. 

 The only reward of the victor was an olive wreath or crown. 



These games were established by Klimenos, about fifty years after 

 Deucalion, and suppressed by the Emperor Theodosius, 394 A.D. From 

 776 B.C., time was reckoned by Olympiads. PI. 9 represents several 

 scenes connected with the Olympian performances. Fig. 7, a ball-slinger ; 

 fig. 8, a discus-slinger (the discus, or quoit, was a heavy stone or iron disk, 

 and the play consisted in throwing it in a curved line to a fixed mark) ; 

 fig. 9, a ring or hoop-racer; fig. 10, archers; fig. 11, a lancer ; j^^. 12, 

 a leaper ; fi^s. 13 and 14, rope-walkers ; fig. 15, wrestlers ; fig. 16, 

 boxers ; fig. IT, foot-racers ; figs. 18-20, hoi-se and chariot racing. 



Apollo is said to have founded the Delphic or Pythian games after he 

 liad slain the dragon and taken possession of the Delphian oracle. That 

 was the reason why these games were always consecrated to him. This 

 festival was celebrated on the Crisssean Plain, near Delphi, and like the 

 Olympian, occurred every fifth year, in the spring of the third Olympic 

 year. At first the exercises consisted of music upon the guitar alone ; the 

 fiute was admitted subsequently, and so were gymnastic performances. 

 They were regulated by the Amphictyonic Council. 



Tradition ascribes the founding of the Xemean games to Hercules, son of 

 Alcmena, after his defeat of the l^emean lion. He dedicated these to the 

 Nemean Jupiter. They were celebrated in the grove of Nemea, between 

 the cities of Cleonse and Philus, and occurred twice in each Olympiad. 



The origin of the Isthmian games is attributed to Sisyphus, who wished to 

 honor with becoming solemnities the death of his nephew Melicertes, 

 or Palaemon. Theseus subsequently revived them, and dedicated them to 

 Poseidon. They were celebrated where the isthmus commences, running 

 from Corinth towards the Scironian rocks. The exercises consisted, as in 

 the three othei-s, of musical and gymnastic contests and horse-races. They 

 took place twice in each Olympiad. 



Education. While all Greece enjoyed a fair celebrity for art and 

 sciences, to Athens belongs the glory of precedence in this respect. The 

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