world, butwere drawn from Elis, the local region which included Olympia. The number of judgesincreased to 10 as more events were added to the Olympics. Even though the judges were allEleans, local Elean Greeks were still allowed to compete in the Olympics. The Elean peoplehad such a reputation for fairness that an Elean cheating at the Games was a shock to otherGreeks. "It is a wonder in any case if a man has so little respect for the god of Olympia as to take or give a bribe in the contests; it is an even greater wonder that one of the Eleans themselves has fallen so low. But it is said that the Elean Damonicus did so fall at the hundred and ninety second Festival. They say that collusion occurred between Polyctor the son of Damonicus and Sosander of Smyrna, of the same name as his father; these were competitors for the wrestling prize of wild-olive. Damonicus, it is alleged, being exceedingly ambitious that his son should win, bribed the father of Sosander. When the transaction became known, the umpires imposed a fine, but instead of imposing it on the sons they directed their anger against the fathers, for that they were the real sinners." (Pausanias 5.21.16ff)this exerpt came from the official Olympic souvenir program of the 1984 games in Los AnglesStamina, strength, charisma, and the even will to live were all the qualities the madethe Olympics the most endured and popular tournament of the ancient games. Along with the Olympic games "There were 3 other major games which were held on 2- or4-year cycles: the Isthmean Games at Corinth, the Pythian Games at Delphi, and the NemeanGames at Nemea. Because it started 200 years before the other competitions, the Olympicsremained the most famous athletic contest in the ancient Greek world, "as described in TheTwentieth Century International Encyclopedia. Many athletes competed at several athleticfestivals. Inscriptions on victor's statues at Olympia often describe victories in 2, 3, or e...
