artans, they gladly promised to help him.

In spite of all Aristomenes' courage, however, Messenia finally fell
into the hands of the Spartans, and the Second Messenian War came to an
end. All the people who wished to escape slavery or death left their
native country, and went to Italy or Sicily, where they founded Greek
colonies.

The cities that they built soon became very powerful, and one of them
they named Mes-si'na in honor of their native land. This city still
stands, as you will see by looking at your maps; and near it is the
strait of the same name, which separates Sicily from Italy.

XXIX. THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

Northwest of Sparta, in the country called E'lis and in the city of
O-lym'pi-a, rose a beautiful temple for the worship of Ju'pi-ter (or
Zeus), the principal god of the Greeks. This temple was said to have
been built by Hercules, the great hero from whom, as you remember, all
the Heraclidae claimed to be descended.

According to the legends, Hercules was a son of the god Jupiter, and had
ordered that a great festival should be held here every four years in
honor of his divine father.

[Illustration: The Temple at Olympia.]

For the purpose of attracting all the neighboring people to the temple
at Olympia, Hercules founded many athletic games, such as wrestling,
stone and spear throwing, foot, horse, and chariot races, boxing,
swimming, and the like.

Hercules himself was present at the first of these festivals, and acted
as umpire of the games, rewarding the victors by giving them crowns of
wild olive leaves. This custom had been kept up ever since, and the
Greek youths considered this simple crown the finest prize which could
be given.

As the Spartans were great athletes, they soon took important parts in
the Olympic games, won most of the prizes, and claimed the honor of
defending the temple at Olympia in all times of danger.

All the people who went to Olympia to witness the games laid some
precious offering before the shrines, so that the temple came to be
noted for its beauty and wealth. Painters and sculptors, too, further
adorned it with samples of their skill, and it soon contained numerous
gems of art.

The most precious of all was a statue representing Jupiter, which was
the work of the renowned sculptor Phid'i-as. This statue was more than
forty feet high; and, while the god himself was carved out of pure white
ivory, his hair, beard, and garments were made of gold, and h