DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0411
OP THE RELIGION OF GREECE,
339
would not, by any sinister, or unlawful means, endeavour to stop the iair
and just proceedings of the games.
The order of wrestlers was appointed by lots, in this manner : a silver
urn, called xaXtm, being placed, into it were put little pellets, in size
about the bigness of beans, upon every one of which was inscribed a let-
ter, and the same letter belonged to every pair ; now those whose for-
tune it was to have the same letters, wrestled together ; if the number
of the wrestlers was not even, he that happened to light upon the odd pel-
let, wrestled last of all with him that had the mastery ; wherefore he was
called *#s#£»f. as coming after the rest; this was accounted the most fortu-
nate chance that could be, because the person that obtained it, was to en-
counter one that was already wearied, and spent with conquering his for-
mer antagonist, himself being fresh, and in full strength (1).
The most successful in his undertakings, and magnificent in his expen-
ces, of all that ever contended in these games, was Alcibudes the Athe-
nian, as Plutarch reports in his life : ' his expences (saith he) in horses
kept for the public games, and in the number of his chariots, were very
magnificent; for never any one beside, either private person, or king,
sent seven chariots to the Olympian games. He obtained at one solem-
nity, the first, second, and fourth prizes, as Thucydides, or third, as Eu-
ripides reports ; wherein he surpassed all that ever pretended in that
kind.'
CHAP. XXIII.
of the pythian games.
The Pythian games were celebrated near Delphi, and are by some
thought to have been first instituted by Amphictyon, the son of Deucalion,
or by the council of amphictyones. Others refer the first institution of
them to Agamemnon (2), Pausanias (3) to Diomedes, the son of Tydeus,
who having escaped a dangerous tempest as he returned from Troy, dedi-
cated a temple at Trcezen to Apollo surnamed Efl-iSarjjPios, and instituted
the Pythian games to his honour : but the most common opinion is, that
Apollo himself was the first author of them, when he had overcome Py-
thon, a serpent, or cruel tyrant.
At their first institution, they were only celebrated once in nine years,
but afterwards every fifth year, according to the number of the Parnas-
sian nymphs, that came to congratulate Apollo, and brought him presents
after his victory.
The rewards were certain apples consecrated to Apollo, according to
Ister (4), and the fore-cited epigram of Archias, in which he thus enu-
merates the prizes in this, and the other three sacred games :
j ABko. J*i tuv Korivo;, (Mho., erlxivx, a-jVi/s,
where Brodaeus will have (fcijtot to signify the Delphian laurel, which, he
(1) Caelius Rhodiginus Antiq. Lect. lib. xxii. (2) Etymologici Auctor. PhaTorinus,
cap. 17. Alexand. ab Alexandre Genial. Dier. (3) Corintbiacis.
lib. v. cap. 8. (4) Librode Coronis.
339
would not, by any sinister, or unlawful means, endeavour to stop the iair
and just proceedings of the games.
The order of wrestlers was appointed by lots, in this manner : a silver
urn, called xaXtm, being placed, into it were put little pellets, in size
about the bigness of beans, upon every one of which was inscribed a let-
ter, and the same letter belonged to every pair ; now those whose for-
tune it was to have the same letters, wrestled together ; if the number
of the wrestlers was not even, he that happened to light upon the odd pel-
let, wrestled last of all with him that had the mastery ; wherefore he was
called *#s#£»f. as coming after the rest; this was accounted the most fortu-
nate chance that could be, because the person that obtained it, was to en-
counter one that was already wearied, and spent with conquering his for-
mer antagonist, himself being fresh, and in full strength (1).
The most successful in his undertakings, and magnificent in his expen-
ces, of all that ever contended in these games, was Alcibudes the Athe-
nian, as Plutarch reports in his life : ' his expences (saith he) in horses
kept for the public games, and in the number of his chariots, were very
magnificent; for never any one beside, either private person, or king,
sent seven chariots to the Olympian games. He obtained at one solem-
nity, the first, second, and fourth prizes, as Thucydides, or third, as Eu-
ripides reports ; wherein he surpassed all that ever pretended in that
kind.'
CHAP. XXIII.
of the pythian games.
The Pythian games were celebrated near Delphi, and are by some
thought to have been first instituted by Amphictyon, the son of Deucalion,
or by the council of amphictyones. Others refer the first institution of
them to Agamemnon (2), Pausanias (3) to Diomedes, the son of Tydeus,
who having escaped a dangerous tempest as he returned from Troy, dedi-
cated a temple at Trcezen to Apollo surnamed Efl-iSarjjPios, and instituted
the Pythian games to his honour : but the most common opinion is, that
Apollo himself was the first author of them, when he had overcome Py-
thon, a serpent, or cruel tyrant.
At their first institution, they were only celebrated once in nine years,
but afterwards every fifth year, according to the number of the Parnas-
sian nymphs, that came to congratulate Apollo, and brought him presents
after his victory.
The rewards were certain apples consecrated to Apollo, according to
Ister (4), and the fore-cited epigram of Archias, in which he thus enu-
merates the prizes in this, and the other three sacred games :
j ABko. J*i tuv Korivo;, (Mho., erlxivx, a-jVi/s,
where Brodaeus will have (fcijtot to signify the Delphian laurel, which, he
(1) Caelius Rhodiginus Antiq. Lect. lib. xxii. (2) Etymologici Auctor. PhaTorinus,
cap. 17. Alexand. ab Alexandre Genial. Dier. (3) Corintbiacis.
lib. v. cap. 8. (4) Librode Coronis.