Kitap 4
8.27
The events were, a stadium raceThe regular short race in the Greek games, corresponding closely to our 220 yards dash. for boys, most of them belonging to the captives, a long race,The δόλιχος seems to have varied from six to twenty-four stadia. in which more than sixty Cretans took part, wrestling, boxing, and the pancratium;A combination of boxing and wrestling. and it made a fine spectacle; for there were a great many entries and, inasmuch as the comrades of the contestants were looking on, there was a great deal of rivalry.
8.28
There were horseraces also, and the riders had to drive their horses down the steep slope, turn them around on the shore, and bring them back again to the altar.The altar on which the sacrifices had been offered served as a starting-point for the races. And on the way down most of the horses rolled over and over, while on the way up, against the exceedingly steep incline, they found it hard to keep on at a walk; so there was much shouting and laughter and cheering.
