In the 37th Olympiad (me. 632) racing on foot and wrestling between boys was introduced. There were also contests in poetry and music at the Olympian festival.
All persons were admitted to contend in the Olympic games who could prove that they were freemen, that they were of genuine Hellenic blood, and that their characters were free from infamy and im morality. So great was the importance attached to the second of these particulars, that the kings of Macedon were obliged to make out their Hellenic descent before they were allowed to contend. The equestrian contests were necessarily confined to the wealthy, who displayed in them great magnificnce ; but the athletic exercises were open to the poorest citizens. An example of this is mentioned by Pausanias (vi. 10.1). In the equestrian games moreover there was no occasion for the owner of the chariot or horse to appear in person. Thus Alcibiades on one occasion sent seven chariots to the Olympic games, three of which obtained prizes. The combatants underwent a long and labo rious training, the nature of which varied with the game in which they intended to engage. Ten months before the festival they were obliged to appear at Elia to enter their names as competitors, stating the prize for which they meant to contend. This interval of ten months was spent in preparatory exercises; and for a part of it, the last thirty days at least, they were thus engaged in the gymnasium at Ells.
When the festival arrival. their names were prochtimed in the stadium, and after proving that they were not disqualified from taking part in the gamete, they were led to the altar of Zeus the guardian of oaths (Zek Secies), where they swore that they had gone through all the preparatory exorables required by the Laws, and that they would not be guilty of any fraud, nor of any attempt to interfere with the fair course of the games. Any ouo detected in bribing his adversary to yield him the victory was heavily fined. After they had taken the oath, their relations and countrymen accompanied them into the stadium, exhorting them to acquit themselves nobly.
The prizes in the Olympian gamest were at first of Some intrinsic value, like those given in the games described by Homer. But after the 7th Olympiad, the only prize given was a garland of wild olive, eutefrom a tree in the sacred grove at Olympia, which was said to have been brought by Heracles from the land of the Ifyperboreans. Palm leaves were at the same time placed in the hands of the victors, and their names, together with the game in which they had conquered, were proclaimed by a herald. A victory at Olympia, besides being the highest honour which a Greek could obtain, conferred so much honour on the state to which he belonged, that successful candidates were fro queutly solicited to allow themselves to be proclaimed citizens of states to which they did not belong. Fresh honours awaited the
victor on his return home. Ile entered his native city in triumph, through a breech made in the wall for his banquets were given to him Ly his frieusla, at which odes were sung m honour of his victory; and his statue .vas often erected, at his own expense or that of his fellow-citizens, iu the Alt's, as the ground at Olympia which was consecrated to the games was called. Three instances are on record In which altars wore built and sacrifices offered to conquerors iu the Olrupie games.
During the celebration of these games, Olympia was a centre for the commerce of all Greece, for the free interchange of opinions, and for the publication of knowledge. The concourse of people from all Greece afforded a fit audience for literary productions, and gave motive for the composition of works worthy to be laid before them. Poetry and statuary received an impulse from the demand made upon then) to aid in perpetuating the victor's fame. [Prerte, in Bias Div.] The influence of the games was thus extended through every part of Greece. Whether the effect of the exercises themselves on the national character was good or evil, is a doubtful question. The exercises of the body, on which these games conferred the greatest honour, were condemned by some philosophers as tending to unfit men for the active duties of a citizen (Arist., ' Pol.,' vii. 14, 18; Athen., x., 413); while they were regarded by others as a most necessary part of a manly education, and as the chief cause of the bodily vigour and mental energy which marked the character of the Hellenic race.
The Olympian games continued to be celebrated with great splendour at Olympia under the Roman emperors; but at length fell into dis repute, and were formally abolished by Theodosius in A.D. 394. The above description of the Olympian games will serve also for the most part for the other three great festivals of Greece. The chief points of difference between them will be seen by referring to the articles ISTntria.e 0.531E3, NEXEAN GAMES, and PYTHIA.N GAMES. Several of the Greek states in course of time established festivals in imitation of the Olympian games, which they likewise called Olympia; but their reputation was for the most part local.
(Paueanias, v. vi., &c.; West's Pinder, Preliminary Dissertation ; Wachsmuth's Ifellenisehe AlIcraumskunde Th. i. ; Krause, 0/ympia; der growls 4ielc ; Thirlwall's and Orote's history of Greece.)