2. Grecian Prize or Gymnastic Contests. — The scrip- tural allusions (Gal. ii, 2; v, 7 ; Phil.ii, IG; iii, 14; 1 Tim. vi, 12; 2 Tim. ii, 5; Heb. xii, 1, 4, 12) are the more appropriate, because the Grecian games were in their origin and in their best days intimately connected with religion. Games in Greece were verj' numerous. They are traceable by tradition back to the earliest periods of Grecian civilization. Indeed, much of the obscurity which rests on their origin is a consequence and a sign of their high an<l even mythic antiquity. Sec Smith, Diet, of Class. Ant. s. v. Athletre.
(1.) Four of these games stood far above the rest, bearing the a]ipellation of ispoi, '"sacred," and deriv- ing their support from the great Hellenic familj' at large, thougli each one had special honor in its own lo- cality : these four were the Olympic, Pythian, Neme- an, and Isthmian. The first were held in the highest honor. The victors at the Olympic games were ac- counted the noblest and happiest of mortals, and every means was taken that could show the respect in which they were held. These games were celebrated ever}' five years at Olympia, in Elis, on the west side of the Peloponnesus. Hence the epoch called the Olym- piads.
The gymnastic exercises were laid down in a well- planned systematic series, beginning with the easier (Kovfpa), and proceeding on to the more diflicult (/^o- pjn). Some of these -vvcre specially fitted to give
strength, others agilit}' ; some educated the hands, oth- ers the feet. Among the lighter exercises was reek-
Ancient Leapers. oned running (opo/zoc), leaping ((VA/i/a), quoiting (tt'ir-
Ancient Game of Quoits.
Koc), hurling the javelin (fk-oirtoj'). "When skill had been obtained in these, and the consequent strength, then followed a severer course of discipline. This was twofold — 1, simple; 2, compound. 'Ihe simple con-
Ancient Wrestlers, sisted of wrestling (rrrtX);), boxing (jrvyfx!]) : the com-
Aucient Boxers
pound we find in the pentathlon (Trh'Ta!i\oi\ quinquer- tium, the five contests), made up of the union of leap- ing, running, quoiting, wrestling, and in hurling the spear ; and in the pankration (jrayKnurtor, general trial of strength)," which consisted of wrestling and boxing. It is not necessary here to speak in detail of the distinctions which Galen makes between the or- dinary motions of the body and those which were re-
GAMES
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GAJVIES
Ancient Imiiiug the Javelin.
quired in these exercises, since the names themselves are sufficient to make manifest how manifold, severe, lonf;, and difficult the bodilj^ discipline was, and the inference is easy and unavoidable that the effect on the bodih' frame must have been of the most decided and lasting kind. See Exercise (Bodily).
Racing, which is the kind of contest chiefly referred to in the N. T., may be traced back to the earliest pe- riods of Grecian antiquity, and may be regarded as the first friendly contest in which men engaged. Ac- cordingly, the Olympic and Pythian, probably also the other games, opened with foot-races. Foot-racing, perfected by sj'stematic practice, was divided into dif- ferent kinds. If one ran merely to the end of the course (oratuo)'), it was called stadium ; if one went thither and back, he ran the double course (SiavXoc').
Ancient Foot-race.
The longest course was the Su\ixoQ, which required extraordinary speed and power of endurance. What it involved the ancients have left in no small uncer- tainty. It is sometimes given as seven times over the stadium ; at others, twelve times ; at others again, twenty; and even the number of four -and -twenty times is mentioned. In the preparatorj' discipline ev- er3'thing was done which could conduce to swiftness and strength. The exercises were performed with the body naked and well oiled. Minute directions were established in order to prevent foul plaj' (KciKOTtxyia, KaKovpyia\ of any kind, so that all the competitors might start and run on terms of entire equality-. The contest was generally most severe ; to reach the goal sooner by one foot was enough to decide the victor}'. See Smith, /;trf. of Class. Antiq. s. v. Stadium. See Discus ; Leaping ; Wrestling.
Olympic Cliariot-race.
Besides the athletic games above described, there were others, consisting of racing in chariots, on horse- back, or with torches ; and still others, in which the parties strove to excel one another in skill in playing upon various instruments. See Kace.
At the Olympic games the prize was simply a chap- let made of wild olive. The crowns were laid on a tripod, and placed in the middle of the course, so as to be seen by all. On the same table there were also ex- posed to view palm-branches, one of which was given into the hand of each conqueror at the same time with the chaplet. The victors, having been summoned by proclamation, were presented with the ensigns of vic- tory, and conducted along the stadium, preceded by a herald, who proclaimed their honors, and announced their name, parentage, and countr}'. The real reward, however, was in the fame which ensued. A chaplet won in tiie chariot-races at Olympia was the highest of earthly honors. What congratulations from friends ; how was the public eye directed to the fortunate con- queror; what honor had he conferred on his native cit}^ and for what office was such a one not fit ! With what intense and deep delight must his bosom have been filled when the full acclaim of assembled Greece fell upon his ear, coming in loud salutations and ap- plauses from every part of the crowded course ! Then came the more private attentions of individual friends. One brought a chaplet of flowers ; another bound his head with ribbons. Afterwards came the triumphal sacrifice made to the twelve gods, accompanied by sumptuous feasting. The poet now began his office, gaining in some cases, both for himself and the happy victor, an unexpected immortality. Music also lent her aid, and his name was sung wherever the noble accents of the Greek tongue asserted their supremac}'. In order to perpetuate the memory of these great men, their names and achievements were entered into a public register, which was under the care of suitable officers. A no less privilege was that of having a stat- ue of themselves placed, either at the expense of their country or their friends, in the sacred grove of Jupiter. A perliaps still greater honor awaited the victor on his return home. The conquerors at the Isthmian games were wont to be received in their chariots, superbly attired, amid thronging and jubilant multitudes. One or two other privileges Ijelonged to these victors, such as immunity from public offices, and a certain yearly stipend. At the Isthmian games the prize was ivy during the mythic periods. In later ages the victor was usuall}' crowned with a chaplet of pine-leaves. If the conqueror had come off victorious in the three great divisions — music, gymnastics, and racing — he was in the Pythian, as well as in the other sacred games, presented also with a palm-branch. See Smith's Diet, of Class. Anliq. s. v. Isthmian, Oh'mpian, Neme- an, Pythian Games severally. See Crown.