Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 2.djvu/39

 B. vni. c. in. 31. ELIS. 31 brated even once in the Eleian district, but always at Olympia. But the games, of which Homer speaks, seem to have taken place in Elis, where the debt was owing, " For a great debt was owing in the divine Elis, Namely, four victorious horses." 1 But it was not in these, but in the Olympic games, that the victor was crowned, for here they were to contend for a tripod. After the twenty-sixth Olympiad, the Pisatae, having re- covered their territory, instituted games themselves, when they perceived that these games were obtaining celebrity. But in after-times, when the territory of the Pisatis reverted to the Eleii, the presidency and celebration of the games reverted to them also. The Lacedaemonians too, after the last defeat of the Messenians, co-operated with the Eleii as allies, contrary to the conduct of the descendants of Nestor and of the Arca- dians, who were allies of the Messenians. And they assisted them so effectually that all the country as far as Messene was called Eleia, and the name continues even to the present time. But of the Pisatas, and Triphylii, and Caucones, not even the names remain. They united also Pylus Emathoeis itself with Lepreum in order to gratify the Lepreatas, who had taken no part in the war. They razed many other towns, and imposed a tribute upon as many as were inclined to maintain their in- dependence. 31. The Pisatis obtained the highest celebrity from the great power of its sovereigns, CEnomaus and his successor Pelops, and the number of their children. Salmoneus is said to have reigned there, and one of the eight cities, into which the Pisatis is divided, has the name of Salmone. For these reasons, and on account of the temple at Olympia, the fame of the country spread everywhere. We must however receive ancient histories, as not entirely agreeing with one another, for modern writers, entertaining different opinions, are accustomed to contradict them fre- quently ; as for example, according to some writers, Augeas was king of the Pisatis, and (Enomaus and Salmoneus kings of Eleia, while others consider the two nations as one. Still we ought to follow in general what is received as true, since writers are not agreed even upon the derivation of the word Pisatis. Some derive it from Pisa, (Iltcra,) a city of the same 1 II. xi. 677.