Chapter XXVIII

PAN-HELLENIC FESTIVALS — OLYMPIC, PYTHIAN, NEMEAN, AND ISTHMIAN.

Want of grouping and unity in the early period of Grecian
history. — New causes, tending to favor union, begin after
560 B. C. — no general war between 776 and 560 B. C. known to
Thucydidês. — Increasing disposition to religious, intellectual,
and social union. — Reciprocal admission of cities to the
religious festivals of each other. — Early splendor of the
Ionic festival at Delos — its decline. — Olympic games — their
celebrity and long continuance. — Their gradual increase —
new matches introduced. — Olympic festival — the first which
passes from a local to a Pan-Hellenic character. — Pythian
games, or festival. — Early state and site of Delphi. — Phocian
town of Krissa. — Kirrha, the seaport of Krissa. — Growth of
Delphi and Kirrha — decline of Krissa. — Insolence of the
Kirrhæans punished by the Amphiktyons. — First Sacred War, in
595 B. C. — Destruction of Kirrha. — Pythian games founded by
the Amphiktyons. — Nemean and Isthmian games. — Pan-Hellenic
character acquired by all the four festivals — Olympic, Pythian,
Nemean, and Isthmian. — Increased frequentation of the other
festivals in most Greek cities. — All other Greek cities, except
Sparta, encouraged such visits. — Effect of these festivals upon
the Greek mind. 50-73