conferred upon some of the chief Divinities. Hercules
and Pollux were of that number, who were as imaginary beings, as any
mentioned above: yet represented upon earth as sturdy fellows, who righted
some, and [770]wronged many. They were in short a kind of honourable
Banditti, who would suffer nobody to do any mischief, but themselves. From
these customs were derived the Isthmian, Nemean, Pythic, and Olympic games,
together with those at Delos. Of these last Homer gives a fine description
in his Hymn to Apollo.

[771][Greek: Alla su Deloi, Phoibe, malist' epiterpeai etor.]
[Greek: Entha toi helkechitones Iaones egerethontai,]
[Greek: Autois sun paidessi, kai aidoieis alochoisi.]
[Greek: Hoide se PYGMACHIEi te, kai orchethmoi, kai aoidei]
[Greek: Mnesamenoi terpousin, hotan stesontai agona.]

These contentions had always in them something cruel, and savage: but in
later times they were conducted with an appearance of equity. Of old the
whole ceremony was a most unfair and barbarous process.

* * * * *

CAMPE AND CAMPI.

Another name for those Amonian temples was Campi, of the same analogy, and
nearly of the same purport, as Arpi above-mentioned. It was in after times
made to signify the parade before the temples, where they wrestled, and
otherwise celebrated their sacred games; and was expressed Campus. When
chariots came in fashion, these too were admitted within the precincts; and
races of this sort introduced. Among the Latines the word Campus came to
mean any open and level space; but among the Sicilians the true meaning was
in some degree preserved. [Greek: Kampos--Ippodromos, Sikuloi.] Hesychius.
It was properly a place of exercise in general, and not confined to races.
Hence a combatant was styled [772]Campio, and the chief persons, who
presided, [773]Campigeni. The exercise itself was by the Greeks styled
[Greek: agon, aethlos, hamilla]; all Amonian terms, taken from the titles
of the Deity, in whose honour the games were instituted. These temples
partly from their symbols, and partly from their history, being
misinterpreted, were by the antient mythologists represented as so many
dragons and monsters. Nonnus mentions both Arpe, and Campe in this light,
and says that the latter had fifty heads, each of some different beast,

[774][Greek: Es apo deires]
[Greek: Enthee pentekonta kareata poikila theron.]

But Campe was an oracular temple and inclosure