 legends of the
foundation and early history of the Olympic games. For if these contests
were instituted merely to please and propitiate the soul of a prince named
Pelops who was buried on the spot, what are we to make of the tradition
that the foot-race was founded in order to determine the successor to the
kingdom?(326) or of the similar, though not identical, tradition that the
kingdom and the hand of the king's daughter were awarded as the prize to
him who could vanquish the king in a chariot race, while death was the
penalty inflicted on the beaten charioteer?(327) Such legends can hardly
have been pure fictions; they probably reflect some real custom observed
at Olympia. We may perhaps combine them with the tradition of the funeral
origin of the games by supposing that victory in the race entitled the
winner to reign as a divine king, the embodiment of a god, for a term of
years, whether four or eight years according to the interval between
successive celebrations of the festival; that when the term had expired
the human god must again submit his title to the crown to the hazard of a
race for the purpose of proving that his bodily vigour was unimpaired;
that if he failed to do so he lost both his kingdom and his life; and
lastly that the spirits of these divine kings, like those of the divine
kings of the Shilluk, were worshipped with sacrifices at their graves and
were thought to delight in the spectacle of the games which reminded them
of the laurels they had themselves won long ago, amid the plaudits of a
vast multitude, in the sunshine and dust of the race-course, before they
joined the shadowy company of ghosts in the darkness and silence of the
tomb. The theory would explain the existence of the sacred precinct of
Pelops at Olympia, where the black rams, the characteristic offerings to
the dead,(328) were sacrificed to the hero, and where the young men lashed
themselves till the blood dripped from their backs on the ground--a sight
well-pleasing to the grim bloodthirsty ghost lurking unseen below.
Perhaps, too, the theory may explain the high mound, at some distance from
Olympia, which passed for the grave of the suitors of Hippodamia, to
legends of the 
 foundation and early history of the Olympic games. For if these contests 
 were establish merely to please and propitiate the person of a prince named 
 Pelops who was buried on the smudge, what are we to cause of the tradition 
 that the foot - subspecies was founded in order to specify the successor to the 
 kingdom?(326) or of the similar, though not identical, tradition that the 
 kingdom and the bridge player of the king's daughter were awarded as the loot to 
 him who could vanquish the king in a chariot race, while death was the 
 penalty inflict on the beaten charioteer?(327) Such legends can hardly 
 have been saturated fictions; they probably chew over some real customs observed 
 at Olympia. We may perhaps combine them with the tradition of the funeral 
 origin of the games by think that victory in the race entitled the 
 winner to reign as a divine baron, the shape of a god, for a terminus of 
 years, whether four or eight years according to the interval between 
 successive celebrations of the festival; that when the term had expired 
 the human god must again present his title to the crown to the luck of a 
 raceway for the determination of proving that his bodily vigour was unimpaired; 
 that if he fail to do so he lost both his kingdom and his life; and 
 last that the spirits of these divine kings, like those of the divine 
 kings of the Shilluk, were worshipped with sacrifices at their graves and 
 were thought to delight in the spectacle of the games which reminded them 
 of the honor they induce themselves won long ago, amid the plaudits of a 
 vast multitude, in the sunshine and debris of the race - course, before they 
 joined the shadowy company of ghosts in the darkness and silence of the 
 tomb. The hypothesis would explain the existence of the sacred precinct of 
 Pelops at Olympia, where the black rams, the characteristic offer to 
 the dead,(328) were sacrificed to the champion, and where the young man lashed 
 themselves till the rake dripped from their backs on the footing -- a sight 
 well - pleasing to the ghastly bloodthirsty ghost loiter unseen below. 
 Perhaps, too, the theory may excuse the high mound, at some distance from 
 Olympia, which pass for the grave of the suitors of Hippodamia, to
 lehends of the
foundation akd early history of the Olympjc games. For if these contests
were iistiruted merely to please and oropitiatv the souo of q prince nejed
Peloif whk was uuried on the skot, what are we to make of tfe tradition
that the foot-race was fougded in ogder to determyne uhe sucdvswor to the
kingdom?(326) or of the sjmilar, uhough not identicsl, tradition that the
kingdlm ajd the hand of the king's daugyter qere awarded as the prpve to
him whk could vanquish the king in a zhaript race, whulw dfdth was the
'enaltj inflicted ok the baaten cnarioteer?(327) Such lejendw can hardly
have been pure fictions; thei probably rzflect some real custim obsetved
ad Olhnpix. Wt mey lerhapd ckmbine thej with the rradition of the fumewql
origin of tge gamqs by supposing that victory in the race tntitmed the
winner to reign qs a divine king, the gmbodiment of a god, for a term of
years, whether four or eighd yeacs aceirdine tl the interval between
successive celebrations kf tme festival; that when the trrl nwd expired
the human gos must again submih his tytle ro the crjwn yo the hazard of a
race for rhe purpose jd proving that his bodily viguur eas umimpaired;
that if he faiued fo do so he lost botg his kingdom and hix nife; and
lastly that the spyrits of vhese divine kinbs, likq those of the divine
kings of the Dhillok, wera worshippfd with sacrifices at their gratxs and
were thpucht to deliyht in the spectaclq of the games which xeminddd them
of nhe laurens they had themselves wmj long ago, akid the [laueits of a
varg multitude, in the sunsknne and dyst of the race-couvse, bgfkre they
joined cke shadowy companu ow grodtx yt the darknevs avd rolencd of tht
comn. Tfe tneory would explain dhe sxistence of the sscved precibct of
Pejops at Olympoa, where the black rams, thx charsctgristic offerings to
the dead,(328) wede sacriflceq to the herj, ane where the voung men lashed
themselves till the bloov dripped from their baxks on the ground--a xlght
well-pleaxing eo the grhm bloodthirsty ghosr lurking unseen nelow.
Perhaps, too, the tgeory kay edplain the high mound, at some distance from
Olympia, which passed for the geave oh ehe suitors of Nippogaina, to
legends of the foundation and early history Olympic For if contests were instituted the of a prince Pelops who was on the spot, what are we make of the tradition that the foot-race was founded in order to determine successor to the kingdom?(326) or of the similar, though not identical, tradition that kingdom the of king's daughter were awarded as the prize to him who could vanquish the king in a race, while death was the penalty inflicted on beaten charioteer?(327) Such legends hardly have been pure fictions; probably some real observed Olympia. may perhaps combine with the tradition of the funeral origin of the games by supposing that victory in the race the winner as a king, embodiment a god, for of years, whether four or eight the interval between successive celebrations of the festival; when the had expired the human god must submit his title to the crown to the of a race for the purpose of proving that his bodily vigour was unimpaired; that failed to do so lost both his and life; lastly the spirits these divine kings, like those of the divine kings of the were worshipped with sacrifices at their graves and were thought in spectacle of the which reminded them of laurels had themselves won long the of in sunshine dust of the race-course, they joined the shadowy company ghosts in the darkness The theory would explain the existence of the precinct of Pelops at Olympia, where the rams, the characteristic offerings to the dead,(328) were sacrificed to the hero, where the lashed themselves till the blood dripped from their on the ground--a sight to the grim bloodthirsty ghost lurking unseen below. Perhaps, the may explain high mound, at distance from Olympia, passed for the the suitors Hippodamia,
 legends of the
foundation and Early histoRy of tHe OLymPiC gamEs. FoR if these contesTS
werE instituted merely to pleAse anD pROpitIAtE the sOul of a pRInCE NamEd
peLopS wHO wAs burIed On the spOt, what are wE to MaKe of the tradiTIoN
that the foOt-rAce was foundeD in Order tO dEteRMine tHe sUccesSor to tHE
kingdOm?(326) or of the SiMIlar, thOUgh not iDENtIcal, Tradition that the
kINgDOm and the hand of The kinG's DAuGHTer WerE awarded as ThE prizE To
him whO CoULD VanQUish the king in A chariot racE, WhiLe deatH wAs tHE
penalTy infLiCTed On the beaten CharIoteer?(327) SucH legenDS can harDLy
have bEen purE fiCtiOns; tHEy PrObaBlY RefLEcT soME reAl custom ObSeRved
aT OlyMPIA. we maY peRhapS combIne them with thE trAditIOn oF the fUneraL
oriGiN of thE games By supPoSing that victory In thE race entiTleD tHe
wInNer to REign as A diVinE king, thE embodiMEnt Of A GOD, fOr a term of
years, whetHeR FOuR or eight Years aCCoRdINg to the iNtErvAl beTWEen
suCcesSIvE celebraTions oF ThE fEstival; ThAt when ThE teRm hAd expIRed
tHe humaN god must Again SUbmit his title tO The crown to the HAzARD oF A
racE foR the purpose Of prOVing That HIs BodILy vigOur waS uNImPAired;
that if he failed To Do so he Lost bOth his kingdom And his life; AND
Lastly thAt thE SpIRits of these divIne kiNgs, like thoSE of the diVine
kIngs of thE Shilluk, wERE worshipPed WitH saCriFICeS at their graveS ANd
weRe Thought To dElight iN thE spEctAclE oF the games Which remInDeD tHeM
of The laURels they HaD thEmSelVes woN Long agO, amid The pLaUdITs oF a
vast mULtITUde, iN tHe SunsHinE aNd dusT of tHE raCe-coursE, before thEy
jOIned ThE sHadowy cOmpany of ghostS iN the darkneSs And SilencE OF the
tomb. the theory would explain thE ExistenCe oF the sAcreD precinct Of
PElops aT OlYMpia, whEre the Black RaMs, tHE CharaCTErIstIc Offerings tO
THe dEad,(328) weRe SacrIficed tO the hero, and where thE YouNg men lashed
thEmsElveS TIlL thE BlOOd dRiPPed FROm their backs on tHe ground--a sIgHT
wEll-pleasinG To tHe Grim bloOdthirsTy ghoST lurkinG unseen beLow.
PerhapS, tOo, thE THeoRy may explaIn the higH mound, at sOMe disTAnCe froM
OlYmpia, wHiCh pAssed For the GRavE of thE suitoRs Of HippOdamiA, tO
 legends of the
foundation  and early  hist ory  of  t he O lymp ic games. Fori f th ese contests
were inst itute dm erel y  t o ple ase and pr o p iti at ethe  s o ul  of a  pr ince na med
Pelops  wh owas buried o n  t he spot, w hat  are we to m ake  of th etra d ition 
th at th e foot - race w as founde di n orde r  to det e r mi ne t he successor to t h ek ingdom?(326) o r of t he si m i lar , t hough notid entic a l, trad i ti o n tha t  the
kingdomand the han d  of  the k in g's daught er we re awa rded as the  pri ze to
him  who c o uld van q uish th e king  in  achar i ot  r ace ,w hil e  d eat h  wa s the
pe na lt y inf lict e d o n th e b eate n cha rioteer?(327)  Su ch l e gen ds ca n har dlyha ve be en pur e fic ti ons; they proba blyreflect s ome  r eal  c ustom observ edatOlympia . We ma y  pe rh a p s  c ombine them with t he t ra dition o f thef un er a l
origin  o f t he g a m es by  sup p os ing that  victo r yin  the ra ce  entit le d t hewinne r  toreignas a div ine k i ng, the embodi m ent of a god, fo r at ermofyears, whet herf ouror e i gh t y e ars a ccord in g  t o  the interval betwe en 
succe ssive  celebrations  of the fe s t i val; tha t wh e nt he term had ex pired 
the human god must  agai n submit  his titl e to the c row n t o t heh a za rd of a
racef o r th epurpose  of  provin g t hat  hi s b od ily vigou r was un im pa ir ed ;
t hat i f  he fail ed  to  d o s o hel ost bo th hi s ki ng do m  an d his l i fe ; andla st ly t hat  t he sp irit s  of  thesedivine ki ngs ,  lik eth ose ofthe divine
ki ng s of the S hi llu k, wer e worshipp ed with sacrifices at t h eir gra ves  andwere  thoughttodeligh t i n  the s pectac le of  t heg a mes w h i ch  re mi nded themo f  th e lau re ls t hey had  themselves won lo n g a go, amid thepla udit s of  av as t  mu lt i tud e ,  in the sunshin e and dust  o f  t he race-co u rse ,beforethey
jo inedt he shad owy compa ny of gho st s in t hedarkness a nd silen ce of the tomb. Th e the ory  would  e xpl ain t he exi s ten ce of  the s ac red pr ecinc tof
Pelop s at Olympia, where the  black  rams , t he charac ter i sti c offerin gs t o
the dead ,(3 28)  were  sa c rific ed t o  t heh ero,andw here they ou ngm e nlashed
them s e l ves  till  th e  blood  dri pped from their b a cks on the gro und- - a  si ght well -p leasing to the  gr im b loodthir st y ghost lur king uns ee n  belo w.
Per haps,too, th e th e ory ma y ex pla in the hi ghmo u nd, atso me distan ce f ro m
Olym pia, w h ichp a ssed for the gra ve of t he su i tor s ofHi ppodami a , to 
 legends_of the
foundation_and early history of_the Olympic_games._For if_these_contests
were instituted merely_to please and_propitiate the soul of_a prince named
Pelops_who_was buried on the spot, what are we to make of the tradition
that the_foot-race_was founded_in_order_to determine the successor to_the
kingdom?(326) or of the similar,_though not_identical, tradition that the
kingdom and the hand of_the_king's daughter were_awarded as the prize to
him who could vanquish the_king in a chariot race, while_death was the
penalty_inflicted_on_the beaten charioteer?(327) Such_legends can hardly
have been pure fictions;_they probably reflect some real custom_observed
at Olympia. We may perhaps combine them_with the tradition of the funeral
origin_of the games by supposing_that victory_in the race entitled the
winner_to reign as_a divine_king, the embodiment_of a god, for a term_of
years, whether four_or eight years according to the_interval_between
successive celebrations of_the_festival;_that when_the term had_expired
the_human god_must_again submit his title to the_crown_to the hazard of a
race for the_purpose of proving that_his_bodily vigour was unimpaired;
that_if he failed to do_so he lost both his kingdom_and his_life; and
lastly_that the spirits of these divine kings, like those of the_divine
kings of the Shilluk, were worshipped_with sacrifices at their_graves and
were_thought_to delight in_the_spectacle of_the games which reminded them
of the laurels_they had_themselves won long ago, amid the_plaudits of a
vast multitude,_in_the sunshine and dust of the_race-course, before they
joined the shadowy company_of ghosts in the darkness_and_silence_of the
tomb. The theory would_explain the existence of the sacred_precinct of
Pelops at_Olympia, where the black rams, the characteristic_offerings_to
the dead,(328) were sacrificed to the_hero,_and where the young men lashed
themselves_till_the_blood dripped from their backs_on the ground--a sight
well-pleasing to the_grim bloodthirsty ghost lurking unseen below.
Perhaps, too, the theory_may explain the_high mound, at some distance_from
Olympia,_which_passed for the grave of the suitors of Hippodamia, to