These games were held by the inhabitants of Pisa, because Elis was
preoccupied
by a war against Dyme.
Eusebius - Chronicles
Castor explained this in the summary of this history, as follows.
Castor, about the kings of the Athenians:
We will now list the kings of the Athenians, starting with Cecrops, called Diphyes, and ending with Thymoetes. The total duration of the reigns of all these kings, called Erechtheidae, was 450 years. After them, Melanthus of Pylus, son of Andropompus, became king, [p183] followed by his son Codrus. The total duration of their two reigns was (? ) 58 years. [When the kings came to an end, they were replaced by archons who ruled for life], starting with (? ) Medon son of Codrus, and ending with Alcmaeon son of Aeschylus. The total duration of the rule of the archons for life was 209 years. The next archons held power for 10 years each; there were seven of these archons, and altogether they ruled for 70 years. Then the archons started to hold power for one year each, starting with Creon and ending with Theophemus, in whose time the history and glorious achievements of our country came to a complete end.
That is what Castor wrote. Now we will provide a list of each of the kings.
The kings of the Athenians
Cecrops Diphyes, for 50 years.
In his reign lived Prometheus, Epimetheus and Atlas. He started to rule the Athenians in the time of Triopas, the seventh king of the Argives, and Marathonius, the thirteenth king of Sicyon.
At this time, Moses was prominent amongst the Hebrews, as we will show in due course.
Also in his reign, the flood of Deucalion is said to have engulfed Thessaly, just as fire devastated the land of Ethiopia in the time of Phaethon.
Cranaus, an aboriginal, for 9 years.
Amphictyon, the son of Deucalion and son-in-law of Cranaus, for (? ) 10 years.
The deeds of the Danaidae are said to have occurred in his reign.
Erichthonius, the son of Hephaestus, who is called Erechtheus by Homer, for 50 years.
The Idaean Dactyls lived in his reign.
Pandion, the son of Erichthonius, for 40 years.
The rape of Core [Persephone], and what is related about Triptolemus, occurred in his reign.
[p185] Erechtheus the son of Pandion, for 50 years.
The deeds of Perseus occurred in his reign.
Cecrops, the brother of Erechtheus, for 40 years.
The deeds of Dionysus occurred in his reign.
Pandion, the son of Erechtheus, for 25 years.
Afterwards Pandion went into exile, and became king of Megara.
The deeds of Europa, Cadmus and the Sparti occurred in his reign.
Aegeus, the son of Pandion, for 48 years.
The deeds of the Argonauts and the Centaurs occurred in his reign; and Heracles held the athletic games.
Theseus, the son of Aegeus, for 30 years.
In his reign, Minos established laws.
Menestheus, the son of Peteus, son of Orneus son of Erechtheus, for 23 years.
In his reign, Troy was captured.
Demophon, the son of Theseus, for 33 years.
The deeds of Odysseus and Orestes occurred in his reign; and Aeneias was king of Lavinium.
Oxyntes, the son of Demophon, for 12 years.
In his reign, the Amazons burnt down the temple at Ephesus.
Apheidas, the son of Oxyntes, for one year.
Thymoetes, the brother of Apheidas, for 8 years.
Melanthus of Pylus, the son of Andropompus, for 37 years.
In his reign the Heracleidae returned and occupied the Peloponnese.
Codrus, the son of Melanthus, for 21 years.
In his reign, the Ionians were driven out of Achaea, and took refuge in Athens.
Archons of the Athenians, who held power for life
Medon, the son of Codrus, for 20 years.
Acastus, the son of Medon, for 36 years.
In his reign occurred the migration of the Ionians, [p187] including Homer, so they say.
At the same time, Solomon built the temple at Jerusalem, as will be shown in due course.
Archippus, the son of Acastus, for 19 years.
Thersippus, the son of Archippus, for 41 years.
Phorbas, the son of Thersippus, for 30 years.
Megacles, the son of Phorbas, for 30 years.
Diognetus, the son of Megacles, for 28 years.
At this time, Lycurgus was in his prime.
Pherecles, the son of Diognetus, for 19 years.
Ariphron, the son of Pherecles, for 20 years.
At this time, the kingdom of the Assyrians came to an end, and Sardanapallus was killed.
Thespieus, the son of Ariphron, for 27 years.
At this time, Lycurgus established laws for the Spartans.
Agamestor, the son of Thespieus, for 17 years.
Aeschylus, the son of Agamestor, for 23 years.
In his twelfth year, the first Olympiad was held, in which Coroebus won the stadion contest.
The total duration of the Athenian rulers, from Cecrops down to the first Olympiad [776 B. C. ], was 780 years; from Ogygus to the first Olympiad, there were 970 years. From this time onwards, it is convenient to calculate dates according to the Olympiads.
After Aeschylus, Alcmaeon ruled the Athenians, for 2 years.
[p189] After Alcmaeon, the Athenians decided to appoint archons for ten years each:
Charops, for ten years.
Aesimides, for ten years.
Cleidicus, for ten years.
Hippomenes, for ten years.
Leocrates, for ten years.
Apsander, for ten years.
Eryxias, for ten years.
After this, they decided to appoint archons for one year each. The first annual archon was Creon, in the 24th Olympiad [684-681 B. C. ]. From that time onwards, an archon was appointed for each year; but it is not necessary to list their names.
This concludes the summary of the dates of the ancient rulers of the Athenians, as related by the older and more reliable historians. We have set down the dates and events before the capture of Troy, which are not reliably recorded, as well as we can from the different accounts. Nor are the events from the capture of Troy until the first Olympiad accurately recorded. However Porphyrius, in the first book of his Philosophical History, gives a summary in the following words:
"Apollodorus says that there are 80 years from the capture of Troy [1183 B. C. ] until the expedition of the Heracleidae to the Peloponnese [1103 B. C. ]; there are 60 years from the return of the Heracleidae until the settling of Ionia [1043 B. C. ]; there are 159 years from then until Lycurgus [884 B. C. ]; and there are 108 years from Lycurgus until the first Olympiad [776 B. C. ]. Altogether, there are 407 years from the capture of Troy until the first Olympiad. "
Next, it will be fitting to give an account of the Olympiads as they are recorded by the Greeks.
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Eusebius: Chronicle
- pages 191-247
Most of the original Greek text of the Chronicle has been lost. This translation is based on a Latin translation of the Armenian translation of the Greek original, in the Schoene-Petermann edition. The references in red are the page numbers from that edition.
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[p191]
Olympiads of the Greeks
First Olympiad: in which Coroebus of Elis won the stadion race.
From this time onwards, the dates of the Greeks seem to have been accurately recorded; before then, the dates are supplied according to the whim of each writer.
About the institution of the Olympic Games
It is necessary to say a little about the origin of the games. Some writers, who trace back the institution of the games to the earliest times, say that they had been held before Heracles, by one of the Idaean Dactyls; and then by Aethlius, as a challenge for his sons (from his name, the competitors were called athletes); and then by his son Epeius; and then Endymion, Alexinus and Oenomaus were each in charge of the sacred festival. Then Pelops held the games in honour of his father Zeus; and next, Heracles the son of Alcmene. There were ten generations (or, according to some, only three complete festivals) from Heracles until the time of Iphitus.
Iphitus was a citizen of Elis, who was concerned about the condition of Greece, and wished to rid the cities of their wars. He sent envoys from the whole of the Peloponnese to consult [the god] about release from the wars which gripped them. The god gave this response to the Peloponnesians:
You who dwell in the Peloponnese, gather round the altar;
Make sacrifice, and obey the instructions of the prophets.
He added these words to the Eleans:
Elean servants of the gods, who maintain your ancestral rites,
Protect your homeland, and desist from war.
Lead the Greeks in mutually just friendship,
Until the gathering comes in the year of good will.
[p193] As a result of this, Iphitus proclaimed the truce [which had been fixed by Heracles at the summer solstice; they no longer fought against each other,] and he organised the games together with Lycurgus, who happened to be his relative because they were both descended from Heracles. On this occasion, the only contest was the stadion race; later the other contests were added in their turn.
Aristodemus of Elis relates that the victors in the athletic contests began to be registered in the 27th Olympiad after Iphitus. Before then, no-one had thought to record the athletes' names. In the 28th Olympiad Coroebus of Elis won the stadion race, and he was the first victor to be registered. This was then established as the first Olympiad, from which the Greeks calculate their dates.
Polybius says the same as Aristodemus; but Callimachus says that thirteen Olympiads passed after Iphitus without victors being registered; and Coroebus was the victor in the 14th Olympiad. Many writers state that the institution of the games by Heracles the son of Alcmene occurred (? ) 419 years before what is counted as the first Olympiad. The Eleans hold the games every fifth year, with a gap of four years in between them.
The Greek Olympiads, from the first Olympiad up until the 247th, when Antoninus the son of Severus was emperor of the Romans:
[The equivalent years B. C. or A. D. are shown in green]
1st Olympiad [776 B. C. ] - Coroebus of Elis was the victor in the stadion race.
The stadion race was the only contest for the first thirteen Olympiads.
2nd [772 B. C. ] - Antimachus of Elis, stadion race
[At this time] Romulus and Remus were born.
3rd [768 B. C. ] - Androclus of Messenia, stadion race
[p195] 4th [764 B. C. ] - Polychares of Messenia, stadion race
5th [760 B. C. ] - Aeschines of Elis, stadion race
6th [756 B. C. ] - Oebotas of Dyme, stadion race
7th [752 B. C. ] - Diocles of Messenia, stadion race
8th [748 B. C. ] - Anticles of Messenia, stadion race
9th [744 B. C. ] - Xenocles of Messenia, stadion race
10th [740 B. C. ] - Dotades of Messenia, stadion race
11th [736 B. C. ] - Leochares of Messenia, stadion race
12th [732 B. C. ] - Oxythemis of Coroneia, stadion race
13th [728 B. C. ] - Diocles of Corinth, stadion race
14th [724 B. C. ] - Desmon of Corinth, stadion race
A double race was added, which was won by Hypenus of Elis.
15th [720 B. C. ] - Orsippus of Megara, stadion race
A long race was added, and the runners were naked; the winner was Acanthus of Laconia.
16th [716 B. C. ] - Pythagoras of Laconia, stadion race
17th [712 B. C. ] - Polus of Epidaurus, stadion race
18th [708 B. C. ] - Tellis of Sicyon, stadion race
A wresting contest was added, and the winner was Eurybatus of Laconia.
A pentathlon contest was also added, and the winner was Lampis of Laconia.
19th [704 B. C. ] - Menus of Megara, stadion race
20th [700 B. C. ] - Atheradas of Laconia, stadion race
21st [696 B. C. ] - Pantacles of Athens, stadion race
22nd [692 B. C. ] - Pantacles for a second time
23rd [688 B. C. ] - Icarius of Hyperesia, stadion race
A boxing contest was added, and the winner was Onomastus of Smyrna. It was Onomastus who established the rules of boxing.
24th [684 B. C. ] - Cleoptolemus of Laconia, stadion race
25th [680 B. C. ] - Thalpis of Laconia, stadion race
A race was added for chariots drawn by four horses, and the winner was Pagon of Thebes.
[p197] 26th [676 B. C. ] - Callisthenes of Laconia, stadion race
Philombrotus of Laconia won the pentathlon at three Olympic games.
The Carneia, a contest for citharodes, was held for the first time at Sparta.
27th [672 B. C. ] - Eurybus of Athens, stadion race
28th [668 B. C. ] - Charmis of Laconia, stadion race
Charmis trained on a diet of dried figs.
These games were held by the inhabitants of Pisa, because Elis was preoccupied by a war against Dyme.
29th [664 B. C. ] - Chionis of Laconia, stadion race
Chionis could leap a distance of 22 feet.
30th [660 B. C. ] - Chionis for a second time
The inhabitants of Pisa defected from Elis, and supervised these and the following 22 games.
31st [656 B. C. ] - Chionis of Laconia for a third time, stadion race
32nd [652 B. C. ] - Cratinus of Megara, stadion race
At these games, Comaeus was the third of his brothers to win the boxing contest.
33rd [648 B. C. ] - Gylis of Laconia, stadion race
At these games, a pancratium contest was added, and the winner was Lygdamis of Syracuse. Lygdamis was massive; he measured out the stadion with his feet, in only six hundred paces.
A horse race was added, and the winner was Craxilas of Thessaly.
34th [644 B. C. ] - Stomas of Athens, stadion race
35th [640 B. C. ] - Sphaerus of Laconia, stadion race
The double race was won by Cylon of Athens, who later attempted to set himself up as tyrant.
[p199] 36th [636 B. C. ] - Phrynon of Athens, stadion race
Phrynon was [later] killed in single combat with Pittacus.
37th [632 B. C. ] - Eurycleidas of Laconia, stadion race
A stadion race for boys was added, and the winner was Polynices of Elis.
A wrestling contest for boys was added, and the winner was Hipposthenes of Laconia, who won the men's wrestling contest five times in a row, starting from the next-but-one Olympic games.
38th [628 B. C. ] - Olyntheus of Laconia, stadion race
A pancratium contest for boys was added, but only on this one occasion. The winner was Deutelidas of Laconia.
39th [624 B. C. ] - Rhipsolaus of Laconia, stadion race
40th [620 B. C. ] - Olyntheus of Laconia for a second time, stadion race
41st [616 B. C. ] - Cleondas of Thebes, stadion race
A boxing contest for boys was added, and the winner was Philotas of Sybaris.
42nd [612 B. C. ] - Lycotas of Laconia, stadion race
43rd [608 B. C. ] - Cleon of Epidaurus, stadion race
44th [604 B. C. ] - Gelon of Laconia, stadion race
45th [600 B. C. ] - Anticrates of Epidaurus, stadion race
46th [596 B. C. ] - Chrysamaxus of Laconia, stadion race
The boys' stadion race was won by Polymnestor of Miletus, who chased and caught a hare while he was tending goats.
47th [592 B. C. ] - Eurycles of Laconia, stadion race
48th [588 B. C. ] - Glycon of Croton, stadion race
Pythagoras of Samos was excluded from the boys' boxing contest and was mocked for being effeminate, but he went on to the men's contest and defeated all his opponents.
49th [584 B. C. ] - Lycinus of Croton, stadion race
[p201] 50th [580 B. C. ] - Epitelidas of Laconia, stadion race
[At this time] the seven wise men were identified.
51st [576 B. C. ] - Eratosthenes of Croton, stadion race
52nd [572 B. C. ] - Agis of Elis, stadion race
53rd [568 B. C. ] - Hagnon of Peparethus, stadion race
54th [564 B. C. ] - Hippostratus of Croton, stadion race
Arichion of Phigaleia was (? ) strangled and died, while winning the pancratium contest for the third time, and though dead he was crowned as victor, because his opponent had already conceded defeat, after his leg was broken by Arichion.
55th [560 B. C. ] - Hippostratus for a second time
[At this time] Cyrus became king of the Persians.
56th [556 B. C. ] - Phaedrus of Pharsalus, stadion race
57th [552 B. C. ] - Ladromus of Laconia, stadion race
58th [548 B. C. ] - Diognetus of Croton, stadion race
59th [544 B. C. ] - Archilochus of Corcyra, stadion race
60th [540 B. C. ] - Apellaeus of Elis, stadion race
61st [536 B. C. ] - Agatharchus of Corcyra, stadion race
62nd [532 B. C. ] - Eryxias of Chalcis, stadion race
Milon of Croton won the wrestling contest. He won six times at the Olympic games, six times at the Pythian games, ten times at the Isthmian games, and nine times at the Nemean games.
63rd [528 B. C. ] - Parmenides of Camarina, stadion race
64th [524 B. C. ] - Menander of Thessaly, stadion race
65th [520 B. C. ] - Anochas of Tarentum, stadion race
A race in full armour was added, and the winner was Damaretus of Heraea.
66th [516 B. C. ] - Ischyrus of Himera, stadion race
67th [512 B. C. ] - Phanas of Pellene, stadion race
Phanas was the first to win all three races, the stadion race, the double race and the race in full armour.
68th [508 B. C. ] - Isomachus of Croton, stadion race
69th [504 B. C. ] - Isomachus for a second time
[p203] 70th [500 B. C. ] - Nicasias of Opus, stadion race
71st [496 B. C. ] - Tisicrates of Croton, stadion race
72nd [492 B. C. ] - Tisicrates for a second time
73rd [488 B. C. ] - Astyalus of Croton, stadion race
74th [484 B. C. ] - Astyalus for a second time
75th [480 B. C. ] - Astyalus for a third time
76th [476 B. C. ] - Scamander of Mytilene, stadion race
77th [472 B. C. ] - Dandes of Argos, stadion race
78th [468 B. C. ] - Parmenides of Poseidonia, stadion race
79th [464 B. C. ] - Xenophon of Corinth, stadion race
80th [460 B. C. ] - Torymmas of Thessaly, stadion race
The wrestling contest was won by Amesinas of Barce, who trained by wrestling with a bull while he was tending cattle. He even brought the bull to Pisa to help his training.
81st [456 B. C. ] - Polymnastus of Cyrene, stadion race
82nd [452 B. C. ] - Lycus of Larissa, stadion race
83rd [448 B. C. ] - Crisson of Himera, stadion race
84th [444 B. C. ] - Crisson for a second time
85th [440 B. C. ] - Crisson for a third time
86th [436 B. C. ] - Theopompus of Thessaly, stadion race
87th [432 B. C. ] - Sophron of Ambracia, stadion race
During this [Olympiad], the Peloponnesian war began.
88th [428 B. C. ] - Symmachus of Messenia, stadion race
89th [424 B. C. ] - Symmachus for a second time
90th [420 B. C. ] - Hyperbius of Syracuse, stadion race
91st [416 B. C. ] - Exagentus of Acragas, stadion race
92nd [412 B. C. ] - Exagentus for a second time
93rd [408 B. C. ] - Eubatus of Cyrene, stadion race
The pancratium contest was won by Polydamas of Scotussa, a massive man who, when he was with Ochus amongst the Persians, killed lions and fought without weapons against armed men; he even brought chariots charging at full speed to a halt.
A race was added for chariots drawn by a pair of horses, and the winner was Euagoras of Elis.
94th [404 B. C. ] - Crocinas of Larissa, stadion race
95th [400 B. C. ] - Minon of Athens, stadion race
96th [396 B. C. ] - Eupolemus of Elis, stadion race
A contest for trumpeters was added, and the winner was Timaeus of Elis.
[p205] A contest for heralds was added, and the winner was Crates of Elis.
97th [392 B. C. ] - Terinaeus [of . . . ], stadion race
98th [388 B. C. ] - Sosippus of Delphi, stadion race
The wrestling contest was won by Aristodemus of Elis, whom no-one could grasp round the middle.
99th [384 B. C. ] - Dicon of Syracuse, stadion race
A race was added for chariots drawn by four foals, and the winner was Eurybatus of Laconia.
100th [380 B. C. ] - Dionysodorus of Tarentum, stadion race
101st [376 B. C. ] - Damon of Thurii, stadion race
102nd [372 B. C. ] - Damon for a second time
103rd [368 B. C. ] - Pythostratus of Ephesus, stadion race
104th [364 B. C. ] - Phocides of Athens, wrestling
These games were held by the inhabitants of Pisa.
105th [360 B. C. ] - Porus of Cyrene, stadion race
106th [356 B. C. ] - Porus for a second time
107th [352 B. C. ] - Micrinas of Tarentum, stadion race
108th [348 B. C. ] - Polycles of Cyrene, stadion race
109th [344 B. C. ] - Aristolochus of Athens, stadion race
110th [340 B. C.
Castor, about the kings of the Athenians:
We will now list the kings of the Athenians, starting with Cecrops, called Diphyes, and ending with Thymoetes. The total duration of the reigns of all these kings, called Erechtheidae, was 450 years. After them, Melanthus of Pylus, son of Andropompus, became king, [p183] followed by his son Codrus. The total duration of their two reigns was (? ) 58 years. [When the kings came to an end, they were replaced by archons who ruled for life], starting with (? ) Medon son of Codrus, and ending with Alcmaeon son of Aeschylus. The total duration of the rule of the archons for life was 209 years. The next archons held power for 10 years each; there were seven of these archons, and altogether they ruled for 70 years. Then the archons started to hold power for one year each, starting with Creon and ending with Theophemus, in whose time the history and glorious achievements of our country came to a complete end.
That is what Castor wrote. Now we will provide a list of each of the kings.
The kings of the Athenians
Cecrops Diphyes, for 50 years.
In his reign lived Prometheus, Epimetheus and Atlas. He started to rule the Athenians in the time of Triopas, the seventh king of the Argives, and Marathonius, the thirteenth king of Sicyon.
At this time, Moses was prominent amongst the Hebrews, as we will show in due course.
Also in his reign, the flood of Deucalion is said to have engulfed Thessaly, just as fire devastated the land of Ethiopia in the time of Phaethon.
Cranaus, an aboriginal, for 9 years.
Amphictyon, the son of Deucalion and son-in-law of Cranaus, for (? ) 10 years.
The deeds of the Danaidae are said to have occurred in his reign.
Erichthonius, the son of Hephaestus, who is called Erechtheus by Homer, for 50 years.
The Idaean Dactyls lived in his reign.
Pandion, the son of Erichthonius, for 40 years.
The rape of Core [Persephone], and what is related about Triptolemus, occurred in his reign.
[p185] Erechtheus the son of Pandion, for 50 years.
The deeds of Perseus occurred in his reign.
Cecrops, the brother of Erechtheus, for 40 years.
The deeds of Dionysus occurred in his reign.
Pandion, the son of Erechtheus, for 25 years.
Afterwards Pandion went into exile, and became king of Megara.
The deeds of Europa, Cadmus and the Sparti occurred in his reign.
Aegeus, the son of Pandion, for 48 years.
The deeds of the Argonauts and the Centaurs occurred in his reign; and Heracles held the athletic games.
Theseus, the son of Aegeus, for 30 years.
In his reign, Minos established laws.
Menestheus, the son of Peteus, son of Orneus son of Erechtheus, for 23 years.
In his reign, Troy was captured.
Demophon, the son of Theseus, for 33 years.
The deeds of Odysseus and Orestes occurred in his reign; and Aeneias was king of Lavinium.
Oxyntes, the son of Demophon, for 12 years.
In his reign, the Amazons burnt down the temple at Ephesus.
Apheidas, the son of Oxyntes, for one year.
Thymoetes, the brother of Apheidas, for 8 years.
Melanthus of Pylus, the son of Andropompus, for 37 years.
In his reign the Heracleidae returned and occupied the Peloponnese.
Codrus, the son of Melanthus, for 21 years.
In his reign, the Ionians were driven out of Achaea, and took refuge in Athens.
Archons of the Athenians, who held power for life
Medon, the son of Codrus, for 20 years.
Acastus, the son of Medon, for 36 years.
In his reign occurred the migration of the Ionians, [p187] including Homer, so they say.
At the same time, Solomon built the temple at Jerusalem, as will be shown in due course.
Archippus, the son of Acastus, for 19 years.
Thersippus, the son of Archippus, for 41 years.
Phorbas, the son of Thersippus, for 30 years.
Megacles, the son of Phorbas, for 30 years.
Diognetus, the son of Megacles, for 28 years.
At this time, Lycurgus was in his prime.
Pherecles, the son of Diognetus, for 19 years.
Ariphron, the son of Pherecles, for 20 years.
At this time, the kingdom of the Assyrians came to an end, and Sardanapallus was killed.
Thespieus, the son of Ariphron, for 27 years.
At this time, Lycurgus established laws for the Spartans.
Agamestor, the son of Thespieus, for 17 years.
Aeschylus, the son of Agamestor, for 23 years.
In his twelfth year, the first Olympiad was held, in which Coroebus won the stadion contest.
The total duration of the Athenian rulers, from Cecrops down to the first Olympiad [776 B. C. ], was 780 years; from Ogygus to the first Olympiad, there were 970 years. From this time onwards, it is convenient to calculate dates according to the Olympiads.
After Aeschylus, Alcmaeon ruled the Athenians, for 2 years.
[p189] After Alcmaeon, the Athenians decided to appoint archons for ten years each:
Charops, for ten years.
Aesimides, for ten years.
Cleidicus, for ten years.
Hippomenes, for ten years.
Leocrates, for ten years.
Apsander, for ten years.
Eryxias, for ten years.
After this, they decided to appoint archons for one year each. The first annual archon was Creon, in the 24th Olympiad [684-681 B. C. ]. From that time onwards, an archon was appointed for each year; but it is not necessary to list their names.
This concludes the summary of the dates of the ancient rulers of the Athenians, as related by the older and more reliable historians. We have set down the dates and events before the capture of Troy, which are not reliably recorded, as well as we can from the different accounts. Nor are the events from the capture of Troy until the first Olympiad accurately recorded. However Porphyrius, in the first book of his Philosophical History, gives a summary in the following words:
"Apollodorus says that there are 80 years from the capture of Troy [1183 B. C. ] until the expedition of the Heracleidae to the Peloponnese [1103 B. C. ]; there are 60 years from the return of the Heracleidae until the settling of Ionia [1043 B. C. ]; there are 159 years from then until Lycurgus [884 B. C. ]; and there are 108 years from Lycurgus until the first Olympiad [776 B. C. ]. Altogether, there are 407 years from the capture of Troy until the first Olympiad. "
Next, it will be fitting to give an account of the Olympiads as they are recorded by the Greeks.
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Eusebius: Chronicle
- pages 191-247
Most of the original Greek text of the Chronicle has been lost. This translation is based on a Latin translation of the Armenian translation of the Greek original, in the Schoene-Petermann edition. The references in red are the page numbers from that edition.
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[p191]
Olympiads of the Greeks
First Olympiad: in which Coroebus of Elis won the stadion race.
From this time onwards, the dates of the Greeks seem to have been accurately recorded; before then, the dates are supplied according to the whim of each writer.
About the institution of the Olympic Games
It is necessary to say a little about the origin of the games. Some writers, who trace back the institution of the games to the earliest times, say that they had been held before Heracles, by one of the Idaean Dactyls; and then by Aethlius, as a challenge for his sons (from his name, the competitors were called athletes); and then by his son Epeius; and then Endymion, Alexinus and Oenomaus were each in charge of the sacred festival. Then Pelops held the games in honour of his father Zeus; and next, Heracles the son of Alcmene. There were ten generations (or, according to some, only three complete festivals) from Heracles until the time of Iphitus.
Iphitus was a citizen of Elis, who was concerned about the condition of Greece, and wished to rid the cities of their wars. He sent envoys from the whole of the Peloponnese to consult [the god] about release from the wars which gripped them. The god gave this response to the Peloponnesians:
You who dwell in the Peloponnese, gather round the altar;
Make sacrifice, and obey the instructions of the prophets.
He added these words to the Eleans:
Elean servants of the gods, who maintain your ancestral rites,
Protect your homeland, and desist from war.
Lead the Greeks in mutually just friendship,
Until the gathering comes in the year of good will.
[p193] As a result of this, Iphitus proclaimed the truce [which had been fixed by Heracles at the summer solstice; they no longer fought against each other,] and he organised the games together with Lycurgus, who happened to be his relative because they were both descended from Heracles. On this occasion, the only contest was the stadion race; later the other contests were added in their turn.
Aristodemus of Elis relates that the victors in the athletic contests began to be registered in the 27th Olympiad after Iphitus. Before then, no-one had thought to record the athletes' names. In the 28th Olympiad Coroebus of Elis won the stadion race, and he was the first victor to be registered. This was then established as the first Olympiad, from which the Greeks calculate their dates.
Polybius says the same as Aristodemus; but Callimachus says that thirteen Olympiads passed after Iphitus without victors being registered; and Coroebus was the victor in the 14th Olympiad. Many writers state that the institution of the games by Heracles the son of Alcmene occurred (? ) 419 years before what is counted as the first Olympiad. The Eleans hold the games every fifth year, with a gap of four years in between them.
The Greek Olympiads, from the first Olympiad up until the 247th, when Antoninus the son of Severus was emperor of the Romans:
[The equivalent years B. C. or A. D. are shown in green]
1st Olympiad [776 B. C. ] - Coroebus of Elis was the victor in the stadion race.
The stadion race was the only contest for the first thirteen Olympiads.
2nd [772 B. C. ] - Antimachus of Elis, stadion race
[At this time] Romulus and Remus were born.
3rd [768 B. C. ] - Androclus of Messenia, stadion race
[p195] 4th [764 B. C. ] - Polychares of Messenia, stadion race
5th [760 B. C. ] - Aeschines of Elis, stadion race
6th [756 B. C. ] - Oebotas of Dyme, stadion race
7th [752 B. C. ] - Diocles of Messenia, stadion race
8th [748 B. C. ] - Anticles of Messenia, stadion race
9th [744 B. C. ] - Xenocles of Messenia, stadion race
10th [740 B. C. ] - Dotades of Messenia, stadion race
11th [736 B. C. ] - Leochares of Messenia, stadion race
12th [732 B. C. ] - Oxythemis of Coroneia, stadion race
13th [728 B. C. ] - Diocles of Corinth, stadion race
14th [724 B. C. ] - Desmon of Corinth, stadion race
A double race was added, which was won by Hypenus of Elis.
15th [720 B. C. ] - Orsippus of Megara, stadion race
A long race was added, and the runners were naked; the winner was Acanthus of Laconia.
16th [716 B. C. ] - Pythagoras of Laconia, stadion race
17th [712 B. C. ] - Polus of Epidaurus, stadion race
18th [708 B. C. ] - Tellis of Sicyon, stadion race
A wresting contest was added, and the winner was Eurybatus of Laconia.
A pentathlon contest was also added, and the winner was Lampis of Laconia.
19th [704 B. C. ] - Menus of Megara, stadion race
20th [700 B. C. ] - Atheradas of Laconia, stadion race
21st [696 B. C. ] - Pantacles of Athens, stadion race
22nd [692 B. C. ] - Pantacles for a second time
23rd [688 B. C. ] - Icarius of Hyperesia, stadion race
A boxing contest was added, and the winner was Onomastus of Smyrna. It was Onomastus who established the rules of boxing.
24th [684 B. C. ] - Cleoptolemus of Laconia, stadion race
25th [680 B. C. ] - Thalpis of Laconia, stadion race
A race was added for chariots drawn by four horses, and the winner was Pagon of Thebes.
[p197] 26th [676 B. C. ] - Callisthenes of Laconia, stadion race
Philombrotus of Laconia won the pentathlon at three Olympic games.
The Carneia, a contest for citharodes, was held for the first time at Sparta.
27th [672 B. C. ] - Eurybus of Athens, stadion race
28th [668 B. C. ] - Charmis of Laconia, stadion race
Charmis trained on a diet of dried figs.
These games were held by the inhabitants of Pisa, because Elis was preoccupied by a war against Dyme.
29th [664 B. C. ] - Chionis of Laconia, stadion race
Chionis could leap a distance of 22 feet.
30th [660 B. C. ] - Chionis for a second time
The inhabitants of Pisa defected from Elis, and supervised these and the following 22 games.
31st [656 B. C. ] - Chionis of Laconia for a third time, stadion race
32nd [652 B. C. ] - Cratinus of Megara, stadion race
At these games, Comaeus was the third of his brothers to win the boxing contest.
33rd [648 B. C. ] - Gylis of Laconia, stadion race
At these games, a pancratium contest was added, and the winner was Lygdamis of Syracuse. Lygdamis was massive; he measured out the stadion with his feet, in only six hundred paces.
A horse race was added, and the winner was Craxilas of Thessaly.
34th [644 B. C. ] - Stomas of Athens, stadion race
35th [640 B. C. ] - Sphaerus of Laconia, stadion race
The double race was won by Cylon of Athens, who later attempted to set himself up as tyrant.
[p199] 36th [636 B. C. ] - Phrynon of Athens, stadion race
Phrynon was [later] killed in single combat with Pittacus.
37th [632 B. C. ] - Eurycleidas of Laconia, stadion race
A stadion race for boys was added, and the winner was Polynices of Elis.
A wrestling contest for boys was added, and the winner was Hipposthenes of Laconia, who won the men's wrestling contest five times in a row, starting from the next-but-one Olympic games.
38th [628 B. C. ] - Olyntheus of Laconia, stadion race
A pancratium contest for boys was added, but only on this one occasion. The winner was Deutelidas of Laconia.
39th [624 B. C. ] - Rhipsolaus of Laconia, stadion race
40th [620 B. C. ] - Olyntheus of Laconia for a second time, stadion race
41st [616 B. C. ] - Cleondas of Thebes, stadion race
A boxing contest for boys was added, and the winner was Philotas of Sybaris.
42nd [612 B. C. ] - Lycotas of Laconia, stadion race
43rd [608 B. C. ] - Cleon of Epidaurus, stadion race
44th [604 B. C. ] - Gelon of Laconia, stadion race
45th [600 B. C. ] - Anticrates of Epidaurus, stadion race
46th [596 B. C. ] - Chrysamaxus of Laconia, stadion race
The boys' stadion race was won by Polymnestor of Miletus, who chased and caught a hare while he was tending goats.
47th [592 B. C. ] - Eurycles of Laconia, stadion race
48th [588 B. C. ] - Glycon of Croton, stadion race
Pythagoras of Samos was excluded from the boys' boxing contest and was mocked for being effeminate, but he went on to the men's contest and defeated all his opponents.
49th [584 B. C. ] - Lycinus of Croton, stadion race
[p201] 50th [580 B. C. ] - Epitelidas of Laconia, stadion race
[At this time] the seven wise men were identified.
51st [576 B. C. ] - Eratosthenes of Croton, stadion race
52nd [572 B. C. ] - Agis of Elis, stadion race
53rd [568 B. C. ] - Hagnon of Peparethus, stadion race
54th [564 B. C. ] - Hippostratus of Croton, stadion race
Arichion of Phigaleia was (? ) strangled and died, while winning the pancratium contest for the third time, and though dead he was crowned as victor, because his opponent had already conceded defeat, after his leg was broken by Arichion.
55th [560 B. C. ] - Hippostratus for a second time
[At this time] Cyrus became king of the Persians.
56th [556 B. C. ] - Phaedrus of Pharsalus, stadion race
57th [552 B. C. ] - Ladromus of Laconia, stadion race
58th [548 B. C. ] - Diognetus of Croton, stadion race
59th [544 B. C. ] - Archilochus of Corcyra, stadion race
60th [540 B. C. ] - Apellaeus of Elis, stadion race
61st [536 B. C. ] - Agatharchus of Corcyra, stadion race
62nd [532 B. C. ] - Eryxias of Chalcis, stadion race
Milon of Croton won the wrestling contest. He won six times at the Olympic games, six times at the Pythian games, ten times at the Isthmian games, and nine times at the Nemean games.
63rd [528 B. C. ] - Parmenides of Camarina, stadion race
64th [524 B. C. ] - Menander of Thessaly, stadion race
65th [520 B. C. ] - Anochas of Tarentum, stadion race
A race in full armour was added, and the winner was Damaretus of Heraea.
66th [516 B. C. ] - Ischyrus of Himera, stadion race
67th [512 B. C. ] - Phanas of Pellene, stadion race
Phanas was the first to win all three races, the stadion race, the double race and the race in full armour.
68th [508 B. C. ] - Isomachus of Croton, stadion race
69th [504 B. C. ] - Isomachus for a second time
[p203] 70th [500 B. C. ] - Nicasias of Opus, stadion race
71st [496 B. C. ] - Tisicrates of Croton, stadion race
72nd [492 B. C. ] - Tisicrates for a second time
73rd [488 B. C. ] - Astyalus of Croton, stadion race
74th [484 B. C. ] - Astyalus for a second time
75th [480 B. C. ] - Astyalus for a third time
76th [476 B. C. ] - Scamander of Mytilene, stadion race
77th [472 B. C. ] - Dandes of Argos, stadion race
78th [468 B. C. ] - Parmenides of Poseidonia, stadion race
79th [464 B. C. ] - Xenophon of Corinth, stadion race
80th [460 B. C. ] - Torymmas of Thessaly, stadion race
The wrestling contest was won by Amesinas of Barce, who trained by wrestling with a bull while he was tending cattle. He even brought the bull to Pisa to help his training.
81st [456 B. C. ] - Polymnastus of Cyrene, stadion race
82nd [452 B. C. ] - Lycus of Larissa, stadion race
83rd [448 B. C. ] - Crisson of Himera, stadion race
84th [444 B. C. ] - Crisson for a second time
85th [440 B. C. ] - Crisson for a third time
86th [436 B. C. ] - Theopompus of Thessaly, stadion race
87th [432 B. C. ] - Sophron of Ambracia, stadion race
During this [Olympiad], the Peloponnesian war began.
88th [428 B. C. ] - Symmachus of Messenia, stadion race
89th [424 B. C. ] - Symmachus for a second time
90th [420 B. C. ] - Hyperbius of Syracuse, stadion race
91st [416 B. C. ] - Exagentus of Acragas, stadion race
92nd [412 B. C. ] - Exagentus for a second time
93rd [408 B. C. ] - Eubatus of Cyrene, stadion race
The pancratium contest was won by Polydamas of Scotussa, a massive man who, when he was with Ochus amongst the Persians, killed lions and fought without weapons against armed men; he even brought chariots charging at full speed to a halt.
A race was added for chariots drawn by a pair of horses, and the winner was Euagoras of Elis.
94th [404 B. C. ] - Crocinas of Larissa, stadion race
95th [400 B. C. ] - Minon of Athens, stadion race
96th [396 B. C. ] - Eupolemus of Elis, stadion race
A contest for trumpeters was added, and the winner was Timaeus of Elis.
[p205] A contest for heralds was added, and the winner was Crates of Elis.
97th [392 B. C. ] - Terinaeus [of . . . ], stadion race
98th [388 B. C. ] - Sosippus of Delphi, stadion race
The wrestling contest was won by Aristodemus of Elis, whom no-one could grasp round the middle.
99th [384 B. C. ] - Dicon of Syracuse, stadion race
A race was added for chariots drawn by four foals, and the winner was Eurybatus of Laconia.
100th [380 B. C. ] - Dionysodorus of Tarentum, stadion race
101st [376 B. C. ] - Damon of Thurii, stadion race
102nd [372 B. C. ] - Damon for a second time
103rd [368 B. C. ] - Pythostratus of Ephesus, stadion race
104th [364 B. C. ] - Phocides of Athens, wrestling
These games were held by the inhabitants of Pisa.
105th [360 B. C. ] - Porus of Cyrene, stadion race
106th [356 B. C. ] - Porus for a second time
107th [352 B. C. ] - Micrinas of Tarentum, stadion race
108th [348 B. C. ] - Polycles of Cyrene, stadion race
109th [344 B. C. ] - Aristolochus of Athens, stadion race
110th [340 B. C.
