Olympiad, Gr. (Ὀλυμπίας). The period of four years between two consecutive celebrations of the Olympic games. The first Olympiad began B.C. 776.
Olympic Games, Gr. Games instituted by Hercules in honour of Jupiter Olympius; they were the most ancient and celebrated in all Greece. They derived their name from Olympia, in Greece, where they were celebrated. They were finally suppressed by Theodosius, A. D. 394.
Ombre. A kind of damask.
Ombros. The name for a particular quality of madder.
Omophagi, Gr. (ὠμο-φάγοι, sc. δαῖτες, i. e. flesh-eating banquets). Festivals held at Chio and Tenedos in honour of Bacchus.
Omophorion. (1) An article of female dress, worn on the shoulders. (2) A vestment of the Greek Church, consisting of a long woollen band with embroidered crosses. It is typical of the lost sheep borne home on the shoulders of the Shepherd.
Onager, Onagrus, R. An engine for hurling stones of great size.
Onicolo or Nicolo. A variety of the onyx, with a deep-brown ground, on which is a band of bluish white, used for making cameos.
Onocentaurs. Fabulous animals, half man, half ass.
Onychomancy (onyx, a nail). Divination by means of the marks on the nails of the hands.