Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume II.djvu/493

 OLYJIPIA. 10. The Theecoleon, a building belonging to the deriKoKoi or superintendents of the sacrifices (Paus. V. 15. § 8). Its position is uncertain. 1 1 . The Hippodamium, named from Hippodameia, who was bm-ied here, was within the Altis near the Pompic Way. (Paus. vi. 20. § 7.) 12. The temple of the Olympian Eileithyia (Lucina) appears to have stood on the neck of Mount Cronius. (Paus. vi. 20. § 2.) 13. The Temple of the Olympian Aphrodite was near that of Eileithyia. (Paus. vi. 20. § 6.) 14. The Thesauri or Treasuries, ten in number, were, like those at Delphi, built by different cities, for the reception of their dedicatory offerings. Tln-y are described by Pausanias as standing to the north of the Heraeum at the foot of Mount Cronius, upon a platform made of the stone poros (Paus. vi. 19. § 1). 1 .5. Zanes, statues of Zeus, erected from the pro- duce of fines levied upon athletae, who had violated the regulations of the games. They stood upon a stone platform at the foot of Slount Cronius, to the left of a person going from the !Metroum to the Stadium. (Paus. v. 21. § 2.) 1 6. The St-udio of Pheidias, which was outside the Altis, and near the Pompic entrance. (Paus. v. 17. 'e. Leonidaeum, built by Leonidas, a native, was near the Studio of Pheidias. Here the Roman magistrates were lodged in the time of Pausanias (v. 15. §§1,2). 18. The Gymnasium, also outside the Altis, and near the northern entrance into it. (Paus. vi. 21. § 2 ) Near the Gymnasium was (19) the Palaestra. 20 and 21. The Stadium and the Ilippodrome were two of the most important sites at Olympia, as together they formed the place of exhibition for all the Olympic contests. Their position cannot be deternnned with certainty, but as they appear to have formed a continued area from the circular end of the Stadium to the further extremity of the Hip- podrome, the position assigned to them by Leake is the most probable. He places the circular end of OLYMPIA. 477 the Stadium at the foot of the heights to the NE. of the summit of Mount Cronius, and the further end of the Hippodrome on the bank of the Alpheius. The Stadium is described by Pausanias as a mound of earth, upon which there was a seat for the Hellanodicae, and over against it an altar of marble, on which sat the priestess of Demeter Chamyne to behold the games. There were two entrances into the Stadium, the Pompic and the Secret. The latter, through which the Hellanodicae and the ago- nistae entered, was near the Zanes; the former pro- bably entered the area in front of the rectilinear extremity of the Stadium. (Paus. vi. 20. § 8, seq.) In proceeding towards the Hippodrome from that part of the Stadium where the Hellanodicae sat was the Eippaphesis or starting place of the horses (J) acpeffts Twv 'liTiruv'). In form it resembled the prow of a ship, the embolus or beak being turned towards the racecourse. Its widest part adjoined the stoa of Agnaptus. At the end of the embolus was a brazen dolphin standing upon a pillar. Either side of the Hippaphesis was more than 400 feet in length, and contained apartments, which those who were going to contend in the horse-races obtained by lot. Before the horses a cord was extended as a barrier. An altar was erected in the middle of the prow, on which was an eagle with outstretched wings. The superintendent of tlie race elevated this eagle by means of machinery, so as to be seen by all the spectators, and at the same time the dolphin fell to the ground. Thereupon the first barriers on either side, near the stoa of Agnaptus, were removed, and then the other barriers were withdrawn in like manner in succession, until all the horses were in line at the embolus. One side of the Hippodrome was longer than the other, and was formed by a mound of earth. There was a passage through this side leading out of the Hippodrome; and near the passage was a kind of circular altar, called Taraxippus (Topa|i:r7ro5), or the teiTifier of horses, because the horses were fi'e- quently seized with teiTor in passing it, so that, cha- FLAIN OF OLYMPIA. A A. Course of the Alpheius in 1820. B B. The Cladeus. 1. Site of Pisa. 2. Mount Cronius. 3. Village A/(>dA(/.