the greatest of the national festivities among the Greeks. They derived their name from Olympia, the place at which they were celebrated. (See Olympia.) Their great antiquity is shown by the mythical accounts that are given of their origin. Hercules, Pelops, and Atreus are severally represented by different legends as the founders. But the first historical fact regarding the Olympic games is their revival in the ninth century B.C. by the conjoint exertions of Iphitus of Elis, Lycurgus of Sparta, and Cleothenes of Pisa. The festival was then appointed to be held once every four years; the intervals between the periods of celebration were called Olympiads; all persons of pure Hellenic blood were invited to contend in friendly contests by the banks of the Alpheus; a general armistice was preserved throughout Greece during the festive days; and the territory of Elis was considered consecrated ground. Great crowds of Greeks from all parts, both at home and in the colonies, were wont to frequent the Olympic games—some for the purpose of taking part in them or of seeing them, but many more for other purposes. Friends came to meet friends; traders to find customers; magistrates to be the ὀρκοῦντες or representatives of their different states; painters and other artists to exhibit their works; and literary men to publish their books by reading them to the multitude. All women were forbidden, on pain of death, to be present, or even to cross the Alpheus. At first the inhabitants of Pisa superintended the games; but after the conquest of that city by the Eleans, the conquerors claimed the management, and chose the hellanodice or judges out of their own state. (See Hellanodice.) How the competitors were trained previously, what exercises were the subjects of the competition, what honours were lavished upon the victors, and what effect the Olympic gatherings had upon the social prosperity of the Greeks, have all been fully noticed in the article Games. The Olympic games continued to be celebrated after the Greeks had been subjected to the yoke of Rome. Roman citizens took part in them; and Roman emperors expended large sums of money in celebrating them. At length, in 394 A.D., under the reign of the Emperor Theodosius, after they had existed for more than a thousand years, and had outlived many famous kingdoms and republics, they were finally abolished.