Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XII.djvu/637

 OLYMPUS OMAHA 623 dition to these there were foot races in which the runners wore heavy armor, several kinds of races on horseback, races between chariots drawn by two horses or by mules, wrestling and running matches between boys, and other athletic contests, some of which were speedily abolished. Like all the great national festivals of Greece, the Olympic games included no com- bats with any kind of weapons. The games were open to persons of all ranks and occupa- tions, the only conditions being that they should prove a pure Hellenic descent and a good moral character. After the conquest of Greece by the Romans the latter were allowed to become competitors. In all cases the combatants were obliged to undergo a preparatory training, and to take a solemn oath to contend fairly. Any at- tempt to bribe a competitor to give the victory to his antagonist was punished by a heavy fine. In the earlier celebrations, as in the Homeric ^games, the prizes seem to have had some in- trinsic value ; but after the 7th Olympiad, in which Daicles the Messenian received for his victory in the stadium a wreath from the sacred olive tree near Olympia, this simple reward, with the honor of being proclaimed victor, was considered sufficient. The victor thence- forth became a marked man in his state, upon which as well as upon his family he was con- sidered to have conferred everlasting glory; ovations and many substantial honors awaited him on his return home ; his praises were sung by the most .eminent poets ; and his statue was often erected at the expense of his fellow citi- zens in the Altis, or sacred grove of Jupiter at Olympia. No women were allowed to be present at the celebration of the games, under penalty of death, a single exception being made in the case of the priestess of Demeter Cha- myne, to whom a seat was assigned opposite the judges ; but women were allowed to enter chariots for the races, and frequently did so. Many literary works were here first publicly recited, although such recitations were not contests and formed no part of the festival proper ; and painters and sculptors found abun- dant means to dispose of their productions. Many persons were also present as deputies from the various states and colonies, and by the number of their offerings and the splendor of their retinues greatly added to the reputa- tion of the festival. The Olympic games pre- served their crowds of visitors and their celeb- rity for many centuries after the extinction of Greek freedom, but were finally abolished by a decree of the Christian emperor Theodosius, A. D. 394. OLYMPUS, Mount, a lofty group of mountains in Turkey, partly in Macedonia and partly in Thessaly. Its S. extremity is at the mouth of the river Peneus, on the shore of the Ther- maic gulf, and is separated by the vale of Tempe from the neighboring heights of Ossa, both mountains forming the E. extremity of the Cambunian range. Its highest peak has an elevation of 9,754 ft. The slopes in many 617 VOL. xn. iO places are richly clothed with forests, but to- ward the summit, which is broad and covered with snow for the greater part of the year, the ridge is broken into vast rugged precipices, in- dented with deep ravines. In Greek mythol- ogy Mount Olympus was the residence of Ju- piter and the chief celestial deities, and the clouds which veiled its summit were supposed to conceal the entrance to the vault of heaven. In Mysia, Lycia, Cyprus, and elsewhere, were mountains called by this name, which is also, borne by an eminence bordering on the plain of Olympia in Elis. OLDiTHUS (now Aio Mamas), an ancient town of Macedonia, in Chalcidice, at the head of the Toronaic gulf. It was early inhabited by Greeks, was taken by the Persians under Artabazus, was next subject to Athens, and re- gained its independence when the Spartan gen- eral Brasidas extinguished the Athenian power in Chalcidice (424 B. C.). From its excellent maritime position, it grew in wealth and im- portance, until, when it had become too pow- erful, the Spartans captured it in 379. In 352 the Olynthians formed an alliance with the Athenians, and in 347 the city was betrayed to Philip of Macedon, the citizens were sold, and every building was demolished. OMAHA, the largest city of Nebraska, capital of Douglas co., on the Missouri river, opposite Council Bluffs, la., 50 m. N. E. of Lincoln, and 490 m. by rail W. by S. of Chicago ; pop. in 1860, 1,883 ; in 1870, 16,083, of whom 6,320 were foreigners; in 1875, about 20,000. It oc- cupies a beautiful plateau, rising gradually into bluffs. The streets are broad and cross each other at right angles. The city is lighted with gas, and is well provided with street railroads. The level portion is chiefly devoted to busi- ness purposes, while the bluffs are occupied by handsome residences with tastefully arranged grounds. The United States court house and post office is a fine building of Cincinnati free- stone, 122 by 66 ft., and four stories high, cost- ing $350,000. The high school building, the Grand Central hotel, and the depot and gen- eral office of the Union Pacific railroad are also noteworthy structures. Omaha is the E. ter- minus of the Union Pacific railroad, and also of the Omaha and Northwestern and the Omaha and Southwestern lines. By bridge and ferry to Council Bluffs it is connected with the east- ern railroad system. (See COUNCIL BLUFFS.) There is considerable trade, the wholesale business in groceries, dry goods, hardware, crockery, lumber, and agricultural implements amounting to about $9,500,000 a year. The city has two national banks, a state bank, and a private bank, with a total capital of $600,000, and deposits to the amount of $2,700,000. Man- ufactures are increasing. The principal estab- lishments are extensive smelting works, smelt- ing and refining gold, silver, lead, and zinc; large linseed oil works, steam engine works, a cracker factory, two soap factories, and seve- ral large breweries and distilleries, besides the