Pedestrianism

^ ANCIENT GYMNASTICS. 21 the privilegeof erecting their statues in the S ACRED G ROVE OF J UPITER , was the last and highest honor which the Hellanodics could grantto the Olympic victors. But uponarriving in their nativecities, the conquerors were far moredistinguished than at Olympiaj and more substantial rewards, were conferred upon them. They enjoyed the honor of a triumphal entry; and temples andaltars, dedicatedto them,were erected at the public expense. They were thus immor­ talized by what wasdeemed the perfectionof glory. "To conquer at Olympia," says Cicero, " was greater and more glorious " than to receive the honors of a Roman " triumph." The importancewhichthe Greeksattached to the Olympicgames maybe deducedfrom the care with which they instructed their youth in the gymnasticexercises. There was scarcelya townof any consideration inGreece, or in her colonies settled along the coasts ot Asia and Africa—in the Ionian and iEgean islands—inSicily andin Italy, in which there was