Modern Athletics 1868

6 MODERN ATHLETICS. The disc-thrower stoodon a raised platform (/3aXSiv),with the risrhtleg,bearing alhl is weight,forward; thedisc, rea y to be delivered, in the right hand, whiwchas thrown back. This attitude,which was representedby the sculptorMyron, is selected byQuintilian asevidence of the greater eflect produced by a figure in action as compared with one at rest. We possess in the British Museuma,copy ot this celebrated statue. The player is ready to swing round his outstretched arm, so as to describe a semicircle, at the end of which the disc will be delivered at aan gle ot about 45 deg., the athlete springing forwardat the same time. The contest was still more unequal when a god entered the lists in his own person, and not merely as partner and marker to a competitor. Hyacmthus lound thitso his cost in his trialwith Phoebus (Ovid, Met. X.). Both stripped (corpora vestelevant), and the god had the nrst throw, he cleft the clouds, and showedno less skill than strength (exhiluit jundacmum viribus artem) .1he mortal ought to have kepta respectful distance till the projectile had settled down;but, in hiseagerness to have his turn, he hastened to pick up thedisc, which rebounded irom tliG ground, struhcikm in tliG ftiaCnGd, . killed him. "Protinus imprudens actusque enpidine ludi Tollere Tsenarides orbem properbat; at ilium Dura repercussumsubj6cit in aera tellus In vultus,Hyacinthe, tuos." ^ , r± ^ . on Ovid, Met. X. 182. However, the god madewhat amends he could for the accident, and those florists who rejoice in Hyacinths and Hyacinth shows have no reasonto complain. "Celebrandaque morepriorum Annua prselataredeunt Hyacinthiapompa. 1 Ovid, Met. X. 218. To the spear-hurling wheaye no modern parallel, with­ out we choose to acceptthrowing the cricket ball asuch. Archery would be the nearest approach, but can hardly be said to enter into modern athletic sports. Here also Odysseus was eminent (Odyssey VIII., 229), boasting, not without reason— "Also this handso far can hurlthe spear, ^ That nonewith arrowmay the scoreexceed. ^ Jlorsley. "Wrestling, also no part of the modern, wasa distinc-