Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

610 HIPPODROMUS. HIPPODR1OM US.
the starting-place) two entrances to the area, b and large is proved by the well-known story, that Alci1, of which the former was probably for the exit biades alone sent to one race seven chariots. Soof disabled chariots end horses, and the latter apZ phocles (Elect. 701-708) mentions ten chariots as
pears to have been for the same purpose as the running at once in the Pythian games; and the
porta triumphalis in the Roman circus. The base number at Olympia was no doubt greater than at
of the fourth side, D, was formed by the portico of any of the other games. This is probably the
Agnamptus, so called from its builder. At this reason why the arrangements of a starting-place
end of the hippodrome was the starting-place were so much more complicated in the Greek hip(tEo'mS), in the form of the prow of a ship, with podromus than they were in the Roman circus
its apex, e, towards the area, and each of its sides [CIRCUs]. About the centre of the triangular
more than 400 feet long. Along both these sides area of the aphesis there was an altar, n, of rough
were stalls (oitcialra) for the chariots about to brick, which was plastered afresh before each
start, like the cacreeres in the Roman circus; and festival, surmounted by a bronze eagle with out-'it was in the arrangement of these stalls that the stretched wings; and above the apex of the
peculiarity of the Greek starting-place consisted. aphesis was a bronze dolphin, se. As the signal
According to the view which we follow, the stalls for the race to begin, the eagle was made to soar
were so arranged, as that the pole of each chariot, aloft, so as to be seen by all the spectators, and
while standing in its stall, was directed to a normal the dolphin sank to the ground.
point, E, at which, as nearly as possible, each The chariots, thus started, had to pass several
chariot ought to fall into its proper course. As times round two goals (rumaoci), the distinction
this point, E, was necessarily on the right side of between which is one of the difficult points in the
the area (in order to turn the goal on the left hand), description of Pausanias. On the whole it seems
and as the corresponding stalls on each side were most probable that the one which he describes as
required to be equidistant from the apex, e (as will having upon it a bronze statue of Hippodameia,
presently be seen) and of course also from the holding out the victor's fillet, as if about to crown
point E, it follows that the base of the aphesis Pelops with it, was the one nearer to the aphesis,
must have been perpendicular to the line E e, and and abreast of the winning line, F; and that the
therefore oblique to the axis D d; and this is the other, G, round which the chariots made their first
reason why the side A was longer than the side turn, was that which Pausanias calls " Taraxippus,
B. The curvature of the sides of the aphesis, 7, g, the terror of the horses." This was a round altar,
is a conjectural arrangement, assumed as that dedicated to Taraxippus, who was supposed to
which was probably adopted to give more space to strike a supernatural terror into the horses as they
each chariot at starting. The front of each stall passed the spot, and whom, therefore, the chariothad a cord drawn across it, and the necessary eers sought to propitiate, before the race began, by
arrangements were made for letting these cords fall offering sacrifices and making vows at this altar.
at the right moments. On the signal being given Pausanias gives various accounts as to who this
for the race to begin, the cords in front of the two Taraxippus was: some modern scholars take the
extreme stalls, Ah I, were let fall simultaneously, word for an appellation of Poseidon Hippius. He
and the two chariots started; then those of the was similarly honoured in the Isthmian hipponext pair; and so on, each pair of chariots being drome. At Nemea there was no such hero, h'but
liberated at the precise moment when those which above the turning point of the course there was a
had already started came abreast of their position; bright red rock, which was supposed to frighten
and, when all the chariots formed an even line the horses. He adds the remark that, the Olymabreast of the apex of the acphesis, e, it was a fair pian Taraxippus had by far the most powerful
start. This arrangement of the aphesis was the effect upon the horses; and considering that the
invention of the statuary Cleoetas, and was im- number of chariots which joined in the race there
proved by Aristeides (perhaps the famous painter; was greater than at any of the other games, that
see Hirt, 1. c.). Cleoetas celebrated his invention remark affords a pretty clear proof that the exin an epigram, which he inscribed on the base of planation of the supposed supernatural terror is that
a statue made by him at Athens; which has been given above in describing the
Homeric race. There are several vase paintings,
TeiOse y i KatLopvaE obs'ApLorq'oATous. on which chariots or single horses are exhibited
turning the goal, which is represented as a Doric
Precisely the same arrangements wete made for or Ionic column. (See Panofka, Bildes Anti/ken
the start in the race of single horses (ieA-77q-s), Lerenas, pl. iii.) One of these is shown in the foland in both cases, as in the race described by lowing engraving, which exhibits a vivid picture of
Homer, the stalls were assigned to the competitors a race of single horses: the last rider las beenl
by lot. How many chariots usually started, can- tmlucky in turning the goal.
not be determined; but that the number was There is no authority in the account of Pausanias