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, AGON

Musicians, painters, &c., had their agonies, as well as the athlete. 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 gymnasticus, the agon Nemensis instituted by the Argives in the 53rd Olympiad, and the agon Olympius instituted 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 folis, the contest of the fan; Diocletian another, which he called agon capitularis, which was celebrated every fourth year, after the manner of the Olympic games. Hence the years, instead of lugra, are sometimes numbered by agonies.

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, Agon? or Agone? Shall I strike?