Roosevelt High School - Bwana Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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Couric-sy of Public Library THE ANCIENT OLYMPIC GAMES HE Olympic Games were the most famous of the four great national festivals of the Greeks. They were celebrated in the sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia every four years, the time varying from the begin- ning of August to the middle of September. The origin of the games was lost in antiquity, and legend attributed the foundation of the games to Hercules, Pelops, and other mythical characters. They were said to have fallen into neglect until King Iphitus of Elis and King Lycurgus of Sparta established the Truce of God at the celebration of the games and restored them to honor. During the greater part of their existence the games were in charge of the Eleans, though the city of Pisa, in whose ancient territory Olympia was situated, frequently disputed this right of the Eleans, until Pisa was destroyed by Elis and Sparta. Early in the year of the games, envoys from Elis were sent throughout the Creek world to invite the states to join in honor to Olympian Zeus. To them the states sent sacred embassies to bring their offer- ings and vie with one another in the splendor of their equipment and enter- tainment. The Olympic games consisted of short and long distance running, Wres- tling, boxing, discus throwing, chariot racing, horse racing, and various other feats testing nerves and endurance. The chief officials varied from two to twelve, though the usual number seems to have been ten. The judges' decision was not Hnal, but might be revised by the senate. Under the judges was a set of police who kept order during the celebration of the games. None but Greeks of pure descent were allowed to take part in the games, until the con- quest of Greece by the Romans, when they also were admitted to the contests. At first the contests occupied but a single day, but in later times, five or six days were needed to complete the sports. The first day was devoted to sacrifices, especially to Zeus, while the officials and contestants took a solemn oath, the former to judge fairly. the latter that they had observed the pre- Eight '

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EWEHH powers: that is, as a means of restoring energy, rather than a means of using it up. ln support of this second theory, we find the fact that, although wearied by studying mathematics, perhaps, one may read a novel for a while, and then return to mathematics with a fresh vigor. ln this last case we easily perceive that there was no superabundant presence of energy, but that with a little relaxation, a little play with a simpler subject, energy to continue a more difficult one was obtained. So it seems that each theory is right until we call into practice the other. But to reconcile this, let us say that a combination of both would cover the different circumstances arising. In other words, both theories may act simultaneously, since acts supplying recreation to exhausted powers may at the same time call into play other powers and thus afford the need for discharging excess energy. The fact that play is an important factor in the health and happiness of the individual was recognized by the ancients, and they accordingly made pro- vision for its exercise. The most outstanding example of this provision was the Olympic games, which have been recently revived because of their recrea- tional value. The folk dance, the social dance, and the singing games are more recent expressions of the predominance of the spirit of play. Carnivals and fetes, with their joyous, carefree fun, are further evidences of the necessity of throw- ing off cares and solemn thoughts and indulging in a period of pure enjoyment. Reading, also, though less active than the forms of play previously mentioned, and all forms of sports, whose appreciation is clearly shown by the high sala- ries of baseball players, both serve to make man happier and better fit for the keen struggle for existence. The city, too, has made its provision for play by establishing an elaborate system of parks, playgrounds, community centers and swimming pools. Even pedagogy, important and arbitrary as it is, has, since the time of Plato, recognized the necessity of play and is at this present time increasing facilities for recreation, realizing that the harder a child plays, the better fit he is to cope with the difficult problems of mastering an education. So we find, in conclusion, that play, besides making man healthier and happier, takes his thoughts away from the seriousness of life and therefore gives him a sense of freedom which he would not otherwise have obtained, and, in short, as the strings of a zither and the cord of a bow should not always be taut if the instrument is to retain its usefulness, so do men need the relaxation of play. CATHERYN MAHNE. J A Milli' a 1 .. Seven

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WRESTLERS Uffizi, Florence fourlvfu of Puhlu' lrhrurzy Nine