Javelin-Throwing and Wrestling.—These sports are frequently shown on the Panathenaic vases already described (p. [60]). Other games of a varied character also occur, and we find such contests as tilting from horseback at a suspended shield, the torch-race, and races in full armour depicted. A specimen (B 134 in the Second Vase Room) shows four athletes engaged in four out of the five contests of the pentathlon (cf. also B 361 (No. 159) in this Case).
Fig. 52.—Later Boxing-Glove (No. 161). 1:2.
Boxing, one of the most ancient contests (see above, fig. 47), was long practised at the games with gloves of ox-hide, which was torn into long strips and bound round the hand. Such wrappings, like modern boxing-gloves, were intended rather to protect the wearer than to injure his opponent. At a later date, probably in the fourth century B.C., a more dangerous glove was introduced, in the form of a pad of thick leather bound over the fingers. This new form must have inflicted severe wounds; it is apparently used by the two African boxers in terracotta seen in this Case (No. 160). But in the decline of the Roman Empire, when the brutality of the spectators had to be satisfied at all costs, a still more cruel glove was invented, which had a heavy addition in metal, and must have been an appalling weapon. See the fragment in terracotta (No. 161, fig. 52). A cast from a terracotta relief (No. 162) shows a statue of a victorious boxer.
Ἐπὶ τοῖς Ὀνομάστου τοῦ Φειδίλεω ἄθλοις ἐθέθην.
Fig. 53.—Prize Vase from the Games of Onomastos (No. 163). 1:6.
The other objects in this case are less directly connected with athletics; the most noteworthy is a large bronze caldron (No. 163, fig. 53), of about the sixth century B.C., which was found at Kyme, in South Italy, and was given as a prize at games held in that district. It is inscribed: "I was a prize at the games of Onomastos." He was doubtless a wealthy citizen at whose expense the contests were arranged, a form of public service very common in Greek cities. A piece of corrugated tile (No. 164) comes from the floor of the palaestra (wrestling place) at Olympia.
(151) Cat. of Vases, I., 2, No. C 334; (153) cf. Jüthner, Ant. Turngeräthe, p. 3 ff.; (154) Furtwängler, Olympia, IV., (Die Bronzen), p. 180; (156) Cat. of Bronzes, 2691; (157) ibid., 3207; B.M. Inscr., 952; (158) Cat. of Bronzes, 248; (160) Cat. of Terracottas, D 84, 85; (162) ibid., D 632; (163) I.G., xiv. 862; (164) Adler, Olympia, II. (Baudenkmaeler) p. 115.
On Greek athletics generally, see Greek Athletic Festivals, by E. N. Gardiner.
[30:] Summed up by Simonides (cf. Bergk, No. 153)