THE OLYMPIC GAMES. 321

Alcibiades far distanced all competitors. One well-
equipped chariot and four usually satisfied the thirst
for display of a rich Greek, but he appeared with no
less than seven, while his horses were of so superior
power that one of his chariots won a first, another a
second, and another a fourth prize, and he had the
honor of being twice crowned with olive. In the
banquet with which he celebrated his triumph he
surpassed the richest of his competitors by the rich-
ness and splendor of the display.

On the occasion of the one hundred and fourth
Olympiad, war existing between Arcadia and Klis,
a combat took place in the sacred ground itself, an
unholy struggle which dishonored the sanctuary of
Pan-hellenic brotherhood, and caused the great tem-
ple of Zeus to be turned into a fortress against the
assailants. During this war the Arcadians plundered
the treasures of these holy temples, as those of the
temple at Delphi were plundered at a later date.

Another occasion of interest in the Olympic games
occurred in the ninety-ninth Olympiad, when Diony-
sius, the tyrant of Sicily, sent his legation to the
sacrifice, dressed in the richest garments, abundantly
furnished with gold and silver plate, and lodged in
splendid tents. Several chariots contended for him
in the races, while a number of trained reciters and
chorists were sent to exhibit his poetical composi-
tions before those who would listen to them. His
chariots were magnificent, his horses of the rarest
excellence, the delivery of his poems eloquently per-
formed ; but among those present were many of the
sufferers by his tyranny, and the display ended in

L—v