Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/340

 318 HISTORY 01' GKEECE. Having thus put an end to the Spartan attack, the Arcadians resumed their aggression against Elis, in conjunction with a new project of considerable moment. It was now the spring immedi- ately preceding the celebration of the great quadrennial Olympic festival, which came about midsummer. The presidency over this sacred ceremony had long been the cherished privilege of the Elei- ans, who had acquired it when they conquered the Pisatans the inhabitants of the region immediately around Olympia, and the first curators of the festival in its most primitive state. These Pisatans, always reluctant subjects of Elis, had never lost the conviction that the presidency of the festival belonged to them of right ; and had entreated Sparta to restore to them their right, thirty-five years before, when Agis as conqueror imposed terms of peace upon the Eleians. 1 Their request had been then declined, on the ground that they were too poor and rude to do worthy honor to the ceremony. But on now renewing it, they found the Arcadians more compliant than the Spartans had been. The Arcadian gar- rison, which had occupied the sacred plain of Olympia for more than a year, being strongly reinforced, preparation was made for celebrating the fetival by the Pisatans under Arcadian protection. 3 The Grecian states would receive with surprise, on this occasion, two distinct notices from official heralds, announcing to them the commencement of the hieromenia or sacred season, and the pre- cise day when the ceremonies would begin: for doubtless the Eleians, though expelled by force from Olympia, still asserted their rights and sent round their notices as usual. It was evident that this memorable plain, consecrated as it was to Hellenic brotherhood and communion, would on the present occa- sion be dishonored by dispute and perhaps by bloodshed : for the Arcadians summoned to the spot, besides their own military strength, a considerable body of allies : two thousand hoplites from Argos, and four hundred horsemen from Athens. So imposing a force being considered sufficient to deter the unwarlike Eleians from any idea of asserting their rights by arms, the Arcadians and Pisatans began the festival with its ordinary routine of sacrifice and matches. Having gone through the chariot-race, they entered upon the pentathlon, or quintuple contest, wherein the running 1 Xen. Hellen. iii, 2, 31.
 * Xcn. Hellen. vii, 2, 29. Compare Tausanias, vi, 22, 2.