OP THE RELIGION OK GREECE.

To preserve peace and good order, there were certain officers ap-
pointed to correct such as were unruly. These were by the Eleans term-
ed 6tk6<rcti, which word signifies the same persons with those who, by the
rest of the Greeks, were called (xQ^efygoi, or fj,cc$-iyd(pogot, and lictores^by
the Romans. Over these was a president, to whom the rest were sub-
ject, called u^vrdp^sg (1).

Women were not allowed to be present at these games ; nay, so severe
were the Elean laws, that if any woman was found so much as to have
passed the river Alpheus during the time of the solemnity, she was to be
tumbled headlong from a rock (cz) : but it is reported, that none were
ever taken thus offending, except Callipatera, whom others call Phere-
nice, who ventured to usher her son Pisidorus, called by some Eucleus,
into the exercises, and, being discovered, was apprehended and brought
before the presidents, who, notwithstanding the severity of the laws, ac-
quitted her, out of respect to her father, brethren, and son, who had all
won prizes in the Olympian games. But my auihor reports, in another
place (3), that Cynisca, the daughter of Archidamus, with manly cou-
rage and bravery, contended in the Olympian games, and was the first of
her sex that kept horses and won a prize there ; but that afterwards se-
veral others, especially some of the Macedonian women, followed her
example, and were crowned at Olympia. Perhaps neither of these re-
ports may be altogether groundless, since innumerable alterations were
made in these games, according to the exigencies of times and change of
circumstances, all which are set down at large in Pausanias, Natalis
Comes, and other mythologists.

All such as designed to contend, were obliged to repair to the public
gymnasium at Elis, ten months before the solemnity, where they prepar-
ed themselves by continual exercises: we are told, indeed, by Phavori-
nus, that the preparatory exercises were only performed thirty days be-
fore the games ; but this must be understood of the performance of the
whole and entire exercises in the same manner they were practised at
the games, which seems to have been only enjoined in the last month,
whereas the nine antecedent months were spent in more light and easy
preparations. No man that had omitted to present himself in this man-
ner, was allowed to put in for any of the prizes ; nor were the accustom-
ed rewards of victory given to such persons, if by any means they insinu-
ated themselves, and overcame their antagonist; nor would any apology,
though seemingly never so reasonable, serve to excuse their absence. In
the 208th olympiad, Apollonius was rejected, and not suffered to contend,
because he had not presented himself in due time, though he was detain-
ed by contrary winds in the islands called Cyclades , and the crown was
given to Heraclides witliout performing any exercise, because no just and
duly qualified adversary appeared to oppose him. No person that was
himself a notorious criminal, or nearly related to any such, was permitted
to contend. Farther, to prevent underhand dealings, if any person was
convicted of bribing his adversary, a severe fine was laid upon him : nor
was this alone thought a sufficient guard against evil and dishonourable
contracts and unjust practices, but the contenders were obliged to swear
they had spent ten whole months in preparatory exercises : and farther
yet, both they, their fathers, and brethren, took a solemn oath, that they

(1) Etymologici Auctor.

(2) Pausanias.

(3) Laconicis.