Scientific Athletics

Those who w re onquerors w re called Olynipionice , and were load cl with honour by their countrym n. At tho e game worn n wer inaclmi ibl , and if any woman wa found during the olemnity to hav pa ed the riv r lpheu he wa to be thrown ov r a precir itous rock. Thi , howev r, was frequ ntly neglect cl, for we find not only women pr ent at the eel brations, but also among th combatant , and ome awar l d with crowns. The pr parations for the e f tival w re I eculiarly exhau tive. o individual was permitt d to nter th list if he had not xerci ed r gularly for t n months at th publi gymna ium at Eli . ro unfair dealing were allow cl ; wh ver att mpt d bribery was liable to a evere fin , an 1 even the fath r and r lations were made to swear that they would have r course to no artifice which might d cid the vi tory in favour of their friend . o riminal , nor u h as w re connected with impiou and guilty per on , wer uff red t present them lv a competitor . Th wre tl r were app int d by lot. ome small ball marked ·with a letter wer thrown into a ilver urn, and uch a drew the am 1 tt r wer bliged to contend on with the other. He who had an odd let.t r r main d th last, and had thu. an advantag , as h wa to n ount r th la t who had obtain cl th uperi rit.y ov r hi adv r ary. In th game wer exhibit d running, leaping, wr tling, boxing, and throwing th quoit., which w r call d altogeth r TEYT<lOAo t', or quinqztertimn. Ther were al o hor and hariot rac , and ont ntion in po try, eloqu n , and the fin art . Th only r ward that the conqueror obtained wa a crown of oliv . Thi , a om have uppos d, wa in m mory of th labours of II r ul . , which w re a compli h d for th univer al good of mankind ancl for which th hero claimed no ot.h r reward but the con. ciou n s of having b n the fri nc.1 of mankind. o small and trivial a r ward timulate 1 intr pidity and virtu . and 20