HELLENODICÆ, Ἑλληνικὰς, in antiquity, the directors of the Olympian games. At first there was only one, afterwards the number increased to two and to three, and at length to nine. They assembled in a place called Ἑλληνικόν, in the Elean forum, where
they were obliged to reside ten months before the celebration of the games, to take care that such as offered themselves to contend, performed their προπαιδείας, πρ., or preparatory exercises, and to be instructed in all the laws of games by certain men called προπαιδευταί, i. e. "keepers of the laws." And the better to prevent all unjust practices, they were farther obliged to take an oath, that they would act impartially, would take no bribes, nor discover the reason for which they disliked or approved of any of the contenders. At the solemnity they sat naked, having before them the victorious crown till the exercises were finished, and then it was presented to whomsoever they adjudged it. Nevertheless, there lay an appeal from the hellenodiceæ to the Olympian senate.