among the ancients, implied any dispute or contest, whether it had regard to bodily exercises, or the accomplishments of the mind; and therefore poets, musicians, painters, &c. had their agonae, as well as the athletæ. Games of this kind were celebrated at most of the heathen festivals, with great solemnity, either annually, or at certain periods of years. Among the latter were celebrated at Athens, the agon gymnicus, the agon nemus institutus by the Argives in the 53rd Olympiad, and the agon Olympia institutus by Hercules 430 years before the first Olympiad. The Romans also, in imitation of the Greeks, instituted contests of this kind. The emperor Aurelian established one under the name of agon solis, the contest of the sun; Dioclesian another, which he called agon capitulinus, which was celebrated every fourth year, after the manner of the Olympic games. Hence the years, instead of lustra, are sometimes numbered by agonae.

AGON also signified one of the ministers employed in the heathen sacrifices, and whose business it was to strike the victim. The name is supposed to have been derived from hence, that standing ready to give the stroke he asked ἀγόνιστα; or ἀγόνιστα; shall I strike?