Note 314 — Chapter I · EARLY GREEK GAMES AND PRIZES.

The age of boy victors at Olympia seems to have been 17–20: see Inschr. v. Ol., 56, ll. II f. (referring to the order of the Augustalia, or Σεβαστὰ ἰσολύμπια, celebrated in Naples, which were modeled after those of Olympia, cf. C. I. G., III, 5805). Archippos of Mytilene won the crown for boxing at Olympia, Delphi, Nemea, and on the Isthmus among the men at not over twenty years of age: P., VI, 15.1; Inschr. v. Ol., 173; he won sometime between Ols. (?) 115 and 125 ( = 320 and 280 B. C.): Hyde, 140; Foerster, 757 (undated). Since Pausanias mentions this as a remarkable record, we should suspect his statement that the boy runner Damiskos of Messene was but twelve when he won the stade-race: VI, 2.10; he won Ol. 103 ( = 368 B. C.): Afr.; Hyde, 20; Foerster, 343. Another victor, of unknown date, Nikasylos of Rhodes, was disqualified when eighteen years old from entering the boys’ wrestling match because of his age, and so entered that of the men: P., VI, 14.1–2; Hyde, 125; Foerster, 787. He died at twenty. Such inconsistencies in Pausanias’ account show that the Hellanodikai exercised some discretion in their judgment, taking into consideration not merely age, but size and strength.