which was adorned with festoons and garlands of flowers and sprinkled with the blood of slaughtered oxen. The ceremonies were continued until night was far advanced, and were performed to the sound of instruments and by the light of the moon. At midnight, as soon as these ceremonies were finished, most of the spectators went instantly to take their places around the course, the better to enjoy the spectacle of the games which were to commence at break of day. By sunrise, every part of the Stadium, every point of the Cronin hill along its side, was thronged with people. No one dared to leave his place, or it would be lost; and they stood there bareheaded and in the deep dust while the day grew hotter and hotter. Only when the sun went down and there was no more light to continue the contest, did the people leave for their When the judges are seated at the goal, dressed in the insignia of their office, a herald. proclaims: "Let the runners advance!" The athletes instantly appear and arrange themselves behind the rope stretched to restrain their impatience, while the herald recites their names and the places from whence they come. We do not see here simply a number of men contending for a few olive leaves, but freemen intrusted with the glory or disgrace of their country, exposing themselves to the alternative of contempt or honor in the presence of thousands of witnesses. The trumpet sounds; the rope is dropped; and off they set, straining every nerve to make the goal. Some run so swiftly that they scarcely leave the impress of their feet; some fall upon a slippery piece of ground and are out of the race. Hope and fear are depicted on the anxious faces of the spectators, while they watch one steadily advance in front of the others. He reaches the goal, wins the victory, and the result of ten months' training is decided. The herald proclaims his name, and it is reëchoed by thousands of throats, while the vanquished run off to escape the jeers of the crowd. The victors were not crowned until the last day of the festival; but at the end of each race or contest, they received a temporary palm. Everyone thronged to congratulate them, to lift them to their shoulders, and show them to the crowd, their relatives and countrymen shedding tears of joy amid the applauding multitude. The second day was generally devoted to the pentathlon, which of all contests was the most complicated. It comprised no less than five competitions, and in order to secure victory it was necessary to win three out of five. It consisted of leaping, throwing the spear or javelin, hurling the discus, running and wrestling. The first three were the essential parts of the contest; foot-racing and wrestling having special days set apart for them were only added to the others to make victory more decisive. The leaping was probably what we call the "long jump," measured by distance along the ground. Enormous leaps are mentioned by the Greeks; the greatest is that attributed to Phayllus of Croton, who is said to have cleared a distance of fifty-five feet. Among moderns, the longest jumps recorded do not attain to even half this distance. The discus or quoit was round and flat, made of stone or metal, sometimes weighing as much as twelve pounds. A skilful athlete, by putting his whole weight into the throw, would often hurl it more than a hundred feet. Of the spear or javelin not much is recorded. From vase representations, we may judge that it was thrown with a thong, which gave it a rotatory motion, thereby increasing the steadiness of its flight. The pentathlon was especially esteemed, as it required a man to be skilled in many forms of exercise; and those who distinguished themselves in this contest were accounted the most beautiful and accomplished men of Greece. On the third day came the horse and chariot races. These were held in the Hippodrome. Only the very rich entered these lists, as they involved a great outlay. Candidates for these victories were not obliged to contend in person, but could trust their fate to H GYMNASTIC EXERCISES. able horsemen trained for the purpose. Accordingly we find among the list of victors several kings of Syracuse, Philip of Macedon, Pausanias, king of Lacedæmon, as well as several Grecian cities. As can be readily imagined, such rivals excited the warmest emulation. The first race of the day was the horse race. Let us direct our attention to a brass dolphin placed at the entrance of the lists, also to an eagle in the middle of the barrier. Presently we see the dolphin sink and hide itself in the ground, and the eagle rise and spread its wings. It is the signal. A mighty shout is heard from the spectators, and the horses dart forward into the Hippodrome. They pass almost with the rapidity of lightning, some slackening, some increasing their speed, till one, with a masterful effort, leaves behind his mortified antagonists, reaches the goal, and is declared victor. ARMED RUNNER (BY AGASIAS) IN THE LOUVRE. Next in order come the chariot races. These are the grandest of all. In one race the chariots are drawn by two horses, in another by colts, and in the last and most splendid by four horses. Let us join the spectators who are waiting to see the supreme event of the day Within the barrier, several magnificent chariots are kept in by ropes. The persons driving them are dressed in the lightest stuffs. Their steeds, whose ardor can scarcely be restrained, attract every eye by their beauty or because of victories already won. As soon as the signal is given, they advance and form one front at the starting place. In an instant we see them in a cloud of dust, crossing and jostling one another, racing along with such rapidity that the eye can scarcely follow. On the way round, they pass the statue of the genius who inspires terror, and here their speed is doubled. It is still further increased by the shrill sound of the trumpet, which tells them they are near a pillar famous for accidents. This must be passed twelve times, for they are required to make twelve circuits of the course. At each time of passing, some accident happens, which excites pity or insulting laughter from the assembly. Some chariots are hurried out of the race, others dashed to pieces and the course covered with the fragments, adding danger to the race. THE RUNNER. FROM HERCULANEUM. IN THE NAPLES MUSEUM. At length but four competitors remain. They are running the course for the last time. One of them, a Thessalonian, strikes against the pillar of misfortune; his horses fall entangled in the reins, and roll over those of a Boeotian who is close beside him. The Hippodrome resounds with shouts and piercing cries. Mean GYMNASTIC EXERCISES. |