. The Burton Holmes lectures;. ,315—VATICAN MlSiaM. A1<)X\()MIMW THE OLYMPIAN GAMES 55 wrote and sang of them. The name of the chief victor was^iven to the Olympiad or period of four years which ensued. The feats performed by the Olympianikes of old havebeen recorded by the story-tellers of antiquity. One, Milo, was so strong, especially in wrist and hands,that no one could bend or even move his little finger when heheld it rigid. Another, Melamcomas, stood during two entiredays with arms outstretched. Another, Polydamas, if weare to believe the evidence of tradition, could with one handarr
. The Burton Holmes lectures;. ,315—VATICAN MlSiaM. A1<)X\()MIMW THE OLYMPIAN GAMES 55 wrote and sang of them. The name of the chief victor was^iven to the Olympiad or period of four years which ensued. The feats performed by the Olympianikes of old havebeen recorded by the story-tellers of antiquity. One, Milo, was so strong, especially in wrist and hands,that no one could bend or even move his little finger when heheld it rigid. Another, Melamcomas, stood during two entiredays with arms outstretched. Another, Polydamas, if weare to believe the evidence of tradition, could with one handarrest the mad career of a four-horse THK STADIUM 56 THE OLYMPIAN GAMES The old boxing-gloves would make a modern prize-fighterpale with terror. They were of leather, studded copiouslywith knobs and plates of metal. We are told that the short-distance runners ran so fast as to be invisible, and thisupon a sandy track. Great honors were the reward of him who conqueredin the lists: His native city became famous through hisvictory ; on his return the enthusiastic inhabitants tore downa portion of the city wall that he might not be forced to enterat the gate used by common mortals. Ay, those wereglorious days for Greece, those twelve long centuries duringwhich two hundred and ninety-three Olympiads succeededone another ! But these Pagan festivals were destined to beengulfed by the rising tide of Christianity, for in the fourthcentury after Christ, the Roman Emperor Theodosius, think-ing to crush Paganism by abolishing Pagan rites, decreed that
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectvoyages, bookyear1901
