The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-05
THE OLYMPIC GAMES
CONTESTS THAT WE'RE FAMOUS
AMONG THE ANCIENT CREEKS.
Foot-Races, Boxing and WRESTLING
Were Features I'm the Festfva1s-
Races for Boys and Girls.

called respectivelv the dromos OF stadion, the
diaulos and the dolichos according as the
course was traversed once. twice or a num-
Der OF times The dromos was straight
away dash of about 200 yards, or exactly
1927 meters. A long line OF fagstones,
erooved so as to be firmly gripped by the
feet, was laid at each end OF the course.
This permitted the finish for both long ana
short races to take place at the same END
Of the stadium. Along these nagstones posts
were erected, dividing the line so that twenty
runners might start at once; for there seems
to have BEEN an aM-comers' race, from which
the visitors were selected TO contend on the
following day in groups Of four.
The diaulos was not straightaway race,
but involved quick turn at the farcner emu
of the course and a return to the starting
noint The dolichos was a long race. the
length of which is variously stated as o. T. O.
u. % and "a stada. At the longest this race
did not reach three miles, but the quick turns
and heavy sand made 1t contest or enour-
ance of quite different character from run
ming the same distance on a modern cinder
track. Such physical endurance proved most
useful at times, as when Phidippides. sent
to notify the Spartans of the approach OF the
Persians, ran from Athens to Sparta and
back Q35 miles) in two days. But all the
feats recorded Of long-distance jumpers in
Greece have been eclipsed by the six days
running and walking matches Of modern
times The military value Of speed was rec
ognized in the Olympic festival by the hop
litodromos or race for armed soldiers, who
ran the length of the course and back In
heavy armor. At first they seem to have
carried the helmet, spear, shield and greaves,
but later the vase paintings indicate that
only helmets and shields were carried.
Twenty-Five brazen shields were preserved
in the temple of Zeus for this purpose.
The races for boys were not revival OF
ancient usage, but were instituted by the
people of Ellis because the idea pleased
them" These races were over a shorter
course than that for men, as were also the
races for young girls. The races for girls
were not portion of the great Zeus festival,
but took place under the auspices Of the
goddess Hera on another occasion. Pausa-
MAS thus describes them: EVERY fourth year
sixteen matrons weave q shawl for Hera,
and the same number preside over the
games. And the contest is race for maid
ems of various ages. In the first race are the
youngest, and next those slightly older, and
last of all the eldest. And they all run with
their hair down their back, short Sunic
below the knee and their right shoulder bare
regular race course in Olympia, but make it
a sixth part Of stade shorter. And the
victors receive crowns of olive and part of
the heifer sacrificed to- Hera, and paintings
of them are made for Hera. And the sixteen
matrons who preside over the games have
many handmaids."
Severer and more dangerous, but more pop
ular, were the contests in wrestling, boxing
and the pancratium. Wrestling, however,
since the days Of mythical Theseus, had
to he of hyt1t fore n
had become a trial of skill. Pindar praised
the victor Epharm0stus as being "deft-
Haor in his and PIutarch regarded
wrestling as the most scientific of all games
Quickness of eye to detect a weakness in the
stand of the opponent, activity in the of
arms and body and legs, and the timely APP
plication of muscular strength, brought into
play harmony of athletic qualities which
made the contest an object of beauty to the
plastic mind of the Greeks. Few. were the
restrictions, such as the rules against strik-
ing and biting; many were the strategems
which were permitted, such as choking,
squeezing, tripping, clambering upon the OPP
ponents back, or breaking his fingers.
Thrice must an opponent throw his adver-
sary so that both shoulders touched the
ground before he could be declared victor;
and If we may judge from the figured rep
reservations. the final overthrow was by no
means gentle act.
CHANGES IN OLYMPIC GAMES.
For many years the contests consisted only
of foot races. until in 70S B. C.. wrestling and
the pentathlon were introduced. During the
SEVENTH century the memories of the au-
thorities at Olympia seem to have been
quicl1ened, for we then find introduced box
ing (6SS B. c., the four-horse chariot race
$3.50 b. c., the horse races and pancratium
(64S B. c.; also the following contests for
boys: Foot races and wrestling 6S2 B. CO.,
and boxing 616 B. c. These heavy con-
tests mark this century as one which set
special value upon muscular force and en-
durance.
In the sixth century were introduced the
hoplitodromos, or warriors race 600 B. c.,
and the soon abandoned chariot race with
mules 600 y. c.; in the fifth the races for
mares (496 3. c.. and for rwo-horse chariots
(4OS b. c.; in the fourth the contest for
chariot races with four colts (SS4 B. CD;
later, the chariot race for two colts (o6S b.
| the pancratium for boys GOO b. c. Musical
| contests were introduced by Nero A. d. 6S.
| The Olympic festival was celebrated with
| great magnificence by the Romans until 394
| A D.. when, under Theodosius. it was finally
When the precise day for the beginning of
to all the cities Of Greece. One
| eastward to the islands, the coast Of Asia
minor, to Egypt. and to Syria; and third
| westward to the Greek colonies in Sicily
southern Italy, Gual and Spain. In order
| to accomplish this gigantic task it was neces-
| sary for them to appoint delegates TO notify
| the smaller or more distant towns. 1t was
| important, however, that all Greek cities
should receive an official announcement of
| the great festival. For the heralds them
| selves the journey was no unpleasant one;
| representatives of the Olympian Zeus every
| where awaited their coming, and were ready
to entertain them. In turn wealthy or in
| f1uential persons from various quarters of
| the Greek world were designated as public
| guests. When they came to Olympia they
received important privileges, were lodged
/ and feasted at pubic expense, and were
| given the seats of honor at the games. All
classes. however. focked to Olympia, some
| i'm vessels, from across the sea, some in
| chariots or on horseback while others, like
| Socrates. made the long journey on foot.
| Those who were not guests of honor spread
| their many-colored tents in the plain, while
| others slept under the opm sky.
The time for the Olympic festival. like the
| Christian Easter, was dependent upon the
| moon. In accordance with an ancient ira
| dition, the festival was held when the moon
| was nearest the summer solstice, at the end
| of June or the beginning of July. With the
| first appearance of the new moon began the
| Hieromenia, or sacred month, during which