Pedestrianism

24 ANCIENT GYMNASTICS. consequenthealth and soundness in the body. We may thereforeconsider the sacredgames of Greece ratheras a militaryinstitution,than a religiousfestival; and that the worship of the gods, although combinedwith the sports of the S TADIUM and H IPPODROME , was only a secondaryobject,calculatedto impress on the minds of the people a higher idea of their value and importance. In the ancient world, as well as in moderntimes, religion has been made a tool to promote state artifices; and the legislators of Greece knew too well the influence of superstition, to reject its power­ ful aid in the construction of their political establishments. As a civil and military institution, the sacred gameswere attended by the happiest consequences. They presented a prize to the emulous youth, accompaniedby such honors as powerfully stimulated their endeavours to acquire that proficiency in the gymnastic sports, which could only be obtained by fre­ quent practice in the schools of their respec­ tive cities. The Athenians devotednearly a third