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PUBLIC GAMES OF GREECE. 41 |
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pic games during the horse-races, to inspirit the animals.*
In fact at the public games the music had a most noisy character, and trumpeters were proud of bursting a blood vessel, or otherwise injuring themselves by excess of zeal.
The contest of trumpeters was the only musical (?) one of these games, though flute-playing took place on the fourth day, when according to Krause,t the pentathlon took place. This was a set of five athletic games; leaping, running, throwing spear, throwing discus, and wrestling. Here flute-playing also served to animate the contestants. The flutes too, considering the purpose for which they were used, must have been played in a violent manner.
Harmonides, a young flute-player, on his first appearance at the games wishing to astonish the audience, began by giving such a tremendous blast on his instrument, that he expired on the spot, probably having burst a blood vessel, and having literally blown himself out with his first note. The audience was probably astonished.
The sacred games next in importance, were the Pythian. These games were at first celebrated by the Delphians, every ninth year, but about 590 B. c, the Amphyctions (another Grecian tribe) obtained the control of them, and instituted them every fifth year. They took place on a plain neai Delphi, and were in honor of Apollo, commemorat* |
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• Ambros, Gesch. d. Musik, p. 237 • Olympia, p. 106. |
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