Pedestrianism

ANCtEtfT GVMNASTICS. 17 and, in antiquity, Leonidas of Rhodes ob­ tained the triple crown, in four Olympiads, and was thusdistinguished in the list of con­ querorsby twelve victories*. The competitors in the gymnasticexercises contendednaked; but in the sixty-fifthOlym­ piad, the race of armed men wasintroduced, as particularly applicable to the duties of war: and, according to Pausanias, lib. v. twenty-five brass bucklers were kept in a templeat Olympiafor the purpose of equip­ ping the candidates, who wore also helmets and bucklers. Damaretus gained the first victoryin this race, which in no respect dif­ fered fromthe stadium, or simple foot-race, but that the Athletae were covered with ar­ mour. Whilethe runnerswaited the soundof the trumpetas the signal to start, they exercised themselves by various feats of agility, and short experimental excursions. * West's Dissertationon tht Olympic Games,p C 61. They