seen flocking to Olympia in all directions by sea and land, from every part of Greece, and even from the most distant countries, for there was no part of the earth to which the fame of the Olympic Games had not penetrated, and few people who were not intensely anxious to become spectators of them. The ceremonies opened in the evening with sacrifices upon all the altars, which were adorned with festoons, the principal offerings being reserved for the grand altar of Jupiter. These were upon a scale commensurate with the general magnificence of the celebration, all the principal cities of Greece sending victims for the Olympian Jupiter; while private individuals, especially those who had gained the honour of an Olympic victory, sometimes made very sumptuous sacrifices at their own expense. Alcibiades, after having gained three prizes in the chariot-race, feasted the whole concourse of Grecians that were gathered together to view the games, with the victims offered to Jupiter, only a small part of which was consumed upon the altar. It is probable, indeed, that the vast multitudes collected upon these occasions, were chiefly subsisted by the sacrifices provided by the different cities; of one or other of which every private Grecian had a right to partake. The sacrificial ceremonies, performed to the sound of instruments, and by the light of the moon, then near its full, were attended with every circumstance of magnificence and solemnity that could awaken admiration, and inspire reverence. At midnight when they ended, most of the spectators, with an eagerness that never deserted them during the whole festival, ran instantly to secure places in the course, the better to enjoy the spectacle of the games, which were to commence at daybreak.

The Elean people, represented by judges termed Hellanodichs, had the entire direction of every thing appertaining to the festival, being invested for the occasion with plenary authority to keep in perfect

F

order that vast assemblage, composed of men of all ranks, and of every region and colony of Greece. Clothed in purple robes, and bearing the usual ensigns of magistracy, these judges seem to have sometimes exercised a sort of papal power, not only claiming the right to punish refractory or contumacious individuals, but to excommunicate whole nations, and cut them off from the right of participation in the festival. Lycurgus originally fixed the order of the athletic combats, which corresponded almost exactly with that described by Homer in the twenty-third book of the Iliad, and eighth of the Odyssey; but the judges had authority to modify and suspend any of them, or to add new games, according to circumstances. Never, however, did the Greeks, except for a short time at Corinth, adopt the cruel gladiatorial shows of the Romans; never did they regard them with any other feeling than that of disgust and horror; never did the polished Athenians admit any spectacle of that sort within their walls, notwithstanding the example of their conquerors, and of some of their own degenerate countrymen; and when a citizen once thought proper to propose publicly the introduction of these games, in order, as he said, that Athens might not be inferior to Corinth, "Let us first," cried an Athenian with vivacity, "let us first overthrow the Altar of Pity, which our ancestors set up more than a thousand years ago."

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CHAPTER VI.

THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

"Sunt quos curriculo pulverem Olympicum
Collegisse juvat; metaque fervidis

Evitata rotis, palmaque nobilis

Terrarum dominos evehit ad Deos."

Horat. i. 1.

THE Olympic course was divided into two partsthe Stadium, and the Hippodromus; the former of which was an elevated open causeway, six hundred feet long, being appropriated to the foot-races and most of the combats; while the latter was reserved for the chariot and horse races. Pausanias has transmitted to us an accurate description of both, particularly of the Hippodromus; but, instead of a detail, which would be little interesting to the general reader, we prefer copying the following animated picture of the scene exhibited at Olympia on the morning when the games were opened. "At the first dawn of day we repaired to the Stadium, which was already filled with athletæ, exercising themselves in preparatory skirmishes, and surrounded by a multitude of spectators; while others in still greater numbers were stationing themselves confusedly on a hill, in form of an amphitheatre, above the course. Chariots were flying over the plain; on all sides were heard the sound of trumpets, and the neighing of horses, mingled with the shouts of the multitude. But when we were able