E'enfiniz. crowd at the feafon of the mysteries, and to go in; but the question suggested by their ignorance presently betrayed them, and their intrufion was punished with death. The chief priest, hierophant, or myftagogue, was taken from the Eumolpidæ, a holy family flourishing at Athens, and defcended from Eumolpus, a fhepherd and favourite of Ceres. He was enjoined celibacy, and wore a itole or long garment, his hair, and a wreath of myrtle. The grand requifites in his character were strength and melody of voice, folemnity of deportment, magnificence, and great decorum. Under him, befides many of inferior ftation, was the daduchus or torch-bearer, who had likewife his hair, with a fillet; the priest, who officiated at the altar; and the hiero-ceryx, or facred herald; all very important perfonages. The latter was of a family which claimed the god Mercury and Aglauros the daughter of Cecrops for its ancestors.

The secrecy in which the myfteries were enveloped, ferved to enhance the idea of their confequence, and to increase the defire of participation. It was fo particular, that no perfon was allowed even to name the hierophant by whom he had been initiated. Public abhorrence and deteftation awaited the babbler, and the law directed he thould die.

The Athenians fuffered none to be initiated into these mysteries but fuch as were members of their city. This regulation, which compelled Hercules, Caftor, and Pollux, to become citizens of Athens, was Arictly obferved in the firft ages of the inftitution, but afterwards all perfons, barbarians excepted, were freely initiated.

The feftivals were divided into great and lefs myfteries. The lefs were inftituted from the following circumstance. Hercules paffed near Eleufis while the Athenians were celebrating the myfteries, and defired to be initiated. As this could not be done, because he was a stranger, and as Eumolpus was unwilling to difplease him on account of his great power, and the fervices which he had done to the Athenians, another festival was instituted without violating the laws. It was called unga, and Hercules was folemnly admitted to the celebration and initiated. Thefe lefs myfteries were observed at Agra near the Iliffus. The greater were celebrated at Eleufis, from which place Ceres has been called Eleufinia. In later times the fmaller feftivals were preparatory to the greater, and no perfon could be initiated at Eleufis without a previous purification at Agræ. This purification they performed by keeping themselves pure, chafte, and unpolluted, during nine days; after which they came and offered facrifices and prayers, wearing garlands of flowers, called ισμερα οι μηρα, and having under their feet Διος xador, Jupiter's fkin, which was the skin of a victim offered to that god. The perfon who affifted was called voeaves from vdwg water, which was used at the purification, and they themselves were called MUJTAI, the initiated.

A year after the initiation at the lefs myfteries they facrificed a fow to Ceres, and were admitted in the greater, and the fecrets of the festivals were folemnly revealed to them, from which they were called spogos and IronTa, infpectators.

This feftival was observed in the month Boedroion or September, and continued nine days from the

15th till the 23d. During that time it was unlawful Eleufinie. to arreft any man, or present any petition, on pain of forfeiting a thousand drachmas, or according to others on pain of death. It was alfo unlawful for those who were initiated to fit upon the cover of a well, to eat beans, mullets, or weazels. If any woman rode to Eleufis in a chariot, fhe was obliged by an edict of Lycurgus to pay 6000 drachmas. The defign of this law was to deftroy all diftinction between the richer and poorer fort of citizens. When the feafon approached, the myftæ or perfons who had been initiated only in the leffer myfteries, repaired to Eleufis to be inftructed in the ceremonial. The fervice for the opening of the temple, with morning facrifice, was performed. The ritual was then produced from the fanc-. tuary. tuary. It was enveloped in fymbolical figures of animals, which fuggefted words compendioufly, in letters with ligatures, implicated, the tops huddled together, or difpofed circularly like a wheel; the whole utterly inexplicable to the profane. The cafe, which was called petroma, confifted of two ftones exactly fitted. The myfterious record was replaced after the reading, and clofed up until a future feftival. The principal rite was nocturnal, and confined to the temple and its environs. The myfte waited without, with impatience and apprehenfion. Lamentations and ftrange noifes were heard. It thundered. Flashes of light and of fire rendered the deep fucceeding darkness more terrible. They were beaten, and perceived not the hand. They beheld frightful apparitions, monsters, and phantoms of a canine form. They were filled with terror, became perplexed and unable to ftir. The fcene then fuddenly changed to brilliant and agreeable. The propylæa or veftibules of the temple were opened, the curtains withdrawn, the hidden things difplayed. They were introduced by the hierophant and daduchus, and the former fhowed them the myfteries. The fplendour of illumination, the glory of the temple and of the images, the finging and dancing which accompanied the exhibition, all contributed to foothe the mind after its late agitation, and to render the wondering devotee tranquil and felf-fatisfied. After this infpection, or, as it was called, the autopfia, they retired, and others advanced. The fucceeding days were employed in purification, in facrifice, inpompous proceffions, and fpectacles, at which they affifted, wearing myrtle crowns. The fecond day was called axads pusas, to the fea, you that are initiated; becaufe they were commanded to purify themselves by bathing in the fea. On the third day facrifices, and chiefly a mullet, were offered; as alfo barley from a field of Eleufis. Thefe oblations were called Ova, and held fo facred that the priests themselves were not, as in other facrifices, permitted to partake of them. On the fourth day they made a folemn proceffion, in which the xuradov, holy basket of Ceres, was carried about in a confecrated cart, while on every fide the people shouted Xxıgı Amunrıg, Hail, Ceres! After thefe followed women, called isopogas, who carried baskets, in which was fefamin, carded wool, grains of falt, a ferpent, pomegranates, reeds, ivy boughs, certain cakes, &c. The fifth was called 'H Twy λaμñadav husga, the torch day; because on the following night the people ran about with torches in their hands.. It was ufual to dedicate torches to Ceres, and contend which should offer the biggest,

Elenfinia. biggeft, in commemoration of the travels of the god defs, and of her lighting a torch in the flames of Mount Etna. The fixth day was called Iaxxos, from Iacchus, the fon of Jupiter and Ceres, who accompanied his mother in her fearch after Proferpine, with a torch in his hand. From that circumftance his ftatue had a torch in his hand, and was carried in folemn proceffion from the Ceramicus to Eleufis. The ftatue, with thofe that accompanied it, called laxxayayor, was crowned with myrtle. In the way nothing was heard but finging and the noise of brazen kettles as the votaries danced along. The way through which they iffued from the city was called 'Isga odos, the facred way, the refting place lige oven, from a fig-tree which grew in the neighbourhood. They alfo ftopped on a bridge over the Cephifus, where they derided thofe that paffed by. After they had paffed this bridge, they entered Eleufis by a place called purinn vodos, the mystical entrance. On the feventh day were fports, in which the victors were rewarded with a measure of barley, as that grain had been first fown in Eleufis. The eighth day was called Exidevgiav jusga, because once Æfculapius at his return from Epidaurus to Athens, was initiated by the repetition of the lefs myfteries. It became customary therefore to celebrate them a fecond time upon this, that fuch as had not hitherto been initiated might be lawfully admitted. The ninth and laft day of the feftival was called Пnμoxoa, earthen veffels, because it was ufual to fill two fuch veffels with wine; one of them being placed towards the east, and the other towards the weft; which, after the repetition of fome myftical words, were both thrown down, and the wine -being fpilt on the ground, was offered as a libation.

The ftory of Ceres and Proferpine, the foundation of the Eleufinian myfteries, was partly local. It was both verbally delivered, and represented in allegorical fhow. Proferpine was gathering flowers when he was ftolen by Pluto. Hence the proceffion of the holy basket, which was placed on a car dragged along by oxen, and followed by a train of females, fome carrying the myftic chefts, fhouting, Hail, Ceres! At night a proceffion was made with lighted torches, to commemorate the goddess fearching for her daughter. A meafure of barley, the grain which, it was believed, the had given, was the reward of the victors in the gymnic exercifes; and the tranfactions at the temple had a reference to the legend. A knowledge of thefe things and places, from which the profane were excluded, was the amount of initiation; and the mode of it, which had been devised by craft, was fkilfully adapted to the reigning fuperftitions. The operation was forcible, and the effect in proportion. The priesthood flourished as piety increased. The difpenfation was corrupt, but its tendency not malignant. It produced fanctity of manners and an attention to the focial duties; defire to be as diftinguished by what was deemed virtue as by filence.

Some have fuppofed the principal rites at this feftival to have been obfcene and abominable, and that from thence proceeded all the myfterious fecrecy. They were carried from Eleufis to Rome in the reign of Adrian, where they were observed with the fame ceremonies as before, though perhaps with more free dom and licentioufnefs. They lafted about 1800

ELEUSIS, in Ancient Geography, a town in Attica, between Megara and the Piræus, celebrated for the feftivals of Ceres. See the preceding article.—Thofe rites were finally extinguished in Greece upon the invafion of Alaric the Goth. Eleufis, on the overthrow of its goddess and the ceffation of its gainful traffic, probably became foon an obfcure place, without character or riches. For fome ages, however, it was not entirely forfaken, as is evident from the vaft confumption of the ancient materials, and from the present remains, of which the following account is given by Dr Chandler *. "The port was fmall and of a circular Travels form. The ftones of one pier are feen above water, into Greece, and the corresponding fide may be traced. About halfp. 189. a mile from the fhore is a long hill, which divides the plain. In the fide next the fea are traces of a theatre, and on the top are cifterns cut in the rock. In the way to it, fome maffes of wall and rubbish, partly ancient, are ftanding; with ruined churches; and beyond, a long broken aqueduct croffes to the mountains. The Chriftian pirates had infefted the place so much, that in 1676 it was abandoned. It is now a fmall village at the eastern extremity of the rocky brow, on which was once a castle; and is inhabited by a few Albanian families, employed in the culture of the plain, and fuperintended by a Turk, who refides in an old square tower. The proprietor was Achmet Aga, the primate or principal perfon of Athens.

The mystic temple at Eleufis was planned by Ictinus, the architect of the Parthenon. Pericles was overfeer of the building. It was of the Doric order; the cell fo large as to admit the company of a theatre. The columns on the pavement within, and their capitals, were raised by Corabus. Mentagenes of Xypete added the architraves and the pillars above them, which fuftained the roof. Another completed the edifice. This was a temple in antis, or without exterior columns, which would have occupied the room required for the victims. The afpect was changed to Proftylos under Demetrius the Phalerean; Philo, a famous architect, erecting a portico, which gave dignity to the fabric, and rendered the entrance more commodious. The fite was beneath the brow, at the east end, and encompaffed by the fortrefs. Some marbles, which are uncommonly maffive, and fome pieces of the columns, remain on the spot. The breadth of the cell is about 150 feet; the length, including the pronaos and portico is 216 feet; the diameter of the columns, which are fluted, 6 inches from the bottom of the fhafts, is 6 feet and more than 6 inches. The temple was a decaftyle, or had 10 columns in the front, which was to the eaft. The peribolus or inclosure, which furrounded it on the north-eaft and on the fouth fide, measures 387 feet in length from north to fouth, and 328 feet in breadth from east to west. On the weft fide it joined the angles of the weft end of the temple in a straight line. Between the weft wall of the inclosure and temple and the wall of the citadel was a paffage of 42 feet 6 inches wide, which led to the fummit of a high rock at the north-weft angle of the inclosure, on which are vifible the traces of a temple in antis, in length 74 feet 6 inches from north to fouth, and in breadth from the

eaft

Eleutheria. eaft to the wall of the citadel, to which it joined on the weft, 54 feet. It was perhaps that facred to Triptolemus. This fpot commands a very extenfive view of the plain and bay. About three-fourths of the cottages are within the precincts of the myftic temple, and the fquare tower ftands on the ruined wall of the inclosure.

"At a fmall diftance from the north end of the inclosure is a heap of marble, confifting of fragments of the Doric and Ionic orders; remains, it is likely, of the temples of Diana Propylea and of Neptune, and of the Propyleum or gateway. Wheler faw fome large ftones carved with wheat-ears and bundles of poppy. Near it is the bust of a coloffal ftatue of excellent workmanship, maimed, and the face disfigured; the breadth at the fhoulders, as measured by Pococke, five feet and a half; and the basket on the head above two feet deep. It probably reprefented Proferpine. In the heap are two or three infcribed pedestals; and on one are a couple of torches, croffed. We faw another fixed in the fame stairs, which lead up the square tower on the outfide. It belonged to the ftatue of a lady, who was hierophant or prieftefs of Proferpine, and had covered the altar of the goddefs with filver. A well in the village was perhaps that called Callichorus, where the women of Eleufis were accustomed to dance in honour of Ceres. A tradition prevails, that if the broken ftatue be removed, the fertility of the land will cease. Achmet Aga was fully poffeffed with this fuperftition, and declined permitting us to dig or measure there, until I had overcome his fcruples by a prefent of a handfome fnuff-box containing several zechins or pieces of gold."

ELEUTHERIA, a feftival celebrated at Platea in honur of Jupiter Eleutherius, or "the affertor of liberty," by delegates from almoft all the cities of Greece. Its inftitution originated in this: After the victory obtained by the Grecians under Paufanias over Mardonius the Perfian general, in the country of Platæa, an altar and statue were erected to Jupiter Eleutherius, who had freed the Greeks from the tyranny of the barbarians. It was further agreed upon in a general affembly, by the advice of Ariftides the Athenian, that deputies fhould be fent every fifth year, from the different cities of Greece, to celebrate Eleutheria, festivals of liberty. The Plataans celebrated alfo an anniversary festival in memory of those who had loft their lives in that famous battle. The celebration was thus: At break of day a proceffion was made with a trumpeter at the head, founding a fignal for battle. After him followed chariots loaded with myrrh, garlands, and a black bull, and certain free young men, as no figns of fervility were to appear during the folemnity, because they in whofe honour the festival was inftituted had died in the defence of their country. They carried libations of wine and milk in large-eared veffels, with jars of oil, and precious ointments. Last of all appeared the chief magistrate, who, though not permitted at other times to touch iron, or wear garments of any colour but white, yet appeared clad in purple, and taking a water-pot out of the city-chamber, proceeded through the middle of the town, with a fword in his hand, towards the fepulchres. There he drew water from a neighbouring spring, and washed and anointed the monuments, after which he facrificed VOL. VIII. Part I.

a bull upon a pile of wood, invoking Jupiter and infer- Eleutheria nal Mercury, and inviting to the entertainment the fouls of thofe happy heroes who had perished in the Elginfhire. defence of their country. After this he filled a bowl with wine, faying, I drink to those who loft their lives in the defence of the liberties of Greece. There was also a festival of the same name obferved by the Samians in honour of the god of love. Slaves alfo, when they obtained their liberty, kept a holiday, which they called Eleutheria.

ELF, a term now almost obsolete, formerly used to denote a fairy or hobgoblin; an imaginary being, the creature of ignorance, fuperftition, and craft. FAIRY.

ELF-Arrows, in Natural Hiflory, a name given to the flints anciently fashioned into arrow-heads, and ftill found foffil in Scotland, America, and feveral other parts of the world: they are believed by the vulgar to be fhot by fairies, and that cattle are fometimes killed by them.

ELGIN, the capital of the county of Moray in Scotland, and formerly a bishop's fee, is fituated on the river Loffie, about fix miles north from the Spey, in W. Long. 2. 25. N. Lat. 57. 40. Mr Pennant fays, it is a good town, and has many of the houses built over piazzas; but, excepting its great cattlefairs, has little trade. It is principally remarkable. for its ecclefiaftical antiquities. The cathedral, now in ruins, has been formerly a very magnificent pile. The weft door is very elegant and richly ornamented. The choir is very beautiful, and has a fine and light gallery running round it; and at the east end are two rows of narrow windows in an excellent Gothic tafte. The chapter-houfe is an octagon; the roof fupported by a fine fingle column, with neat carvings of coats of arms round the capital. There is ftill a great tower on each fide of this cathedral; but that in the centre, with the fpire and whole roof, are fallen in; and form moft awful fragments, mixed with the battered monuments of knights and prelates. Boethius fays, that Duncan, who was killed by Macbeth at Inverness, lies buried here. The place is also crowded with a number of modern tomb-ftones.The cathedral was founded by Andrew de Moray, in 1224, on a piece of land granted by Alexander II.; and his remains were depofited in the choir, under a tomb of blue marble, in 1244. The great tower was built principally by John Innes bishop of this fee, as appears by the infcription cut on one of the great pillars: "Hic Jacet in Xto, pater et dominus, Dominus Johannes de Innes, hujus ecclefiæ Epifcopus ; qui hoc notabile opus incepit et per feptennium ædificavit." Elgin is a royal borough ; and gives title of earl to the family of Bruce.

ELGINSHIRE, is the middle diftrict of the ancient county of Moray. It is bounded on the north by that branch of the German ocean called the Moray Frith; on the eaft and fouth-eaft by Banff-fhire; on the fouth-weft, by Inverness-shire; and on the west by the counties of Inverness and Nairn. It extends about 42 miles in length, and its average breadth is about 20. The fouthern part is rocky and mountainous, called the district of Braemoray, which is occupied with extenfive forefts. The lower parts, towards the north, are rich and fertile; but might easily be rendered more C productive.

Eli.

Elginfhire, productive. The principal rivers are, the Spey, Findhorne, and Loffie; all of which abound with falmon. It contains two royal boroughs, viz. Elgin, the county town, and Forres; and feveral confiderable towns, as Grantown, Garmouth, Loffiemouth, &c. The principal feats are Gordon-caftle, the feat of the duke of Gordon; Cafle Grant, the feat of Sir James Grant; Altyre, the feat of Colonel Cumming, &c. Morayshire abounds with many remains of antiquity; the principal of which are the magnificent cathedral of Elgin, the priory of Pluscardine near the town of Elgin, the bishop's palace at Spynie, the castles of Lochindorb, Dunphail, and the dun of Relugas, in the parish of Edenkeillie. The ancient Scottish hiftorians, particularly Fordun and Buchanan, give accounts of the Danes landing in Moray, about 1008, when Malcolm II. marched against them, and was defeated near Forres: after this they brought over their wives and children, and were in poffeffion of the country for fome time; until they were finally expelled by that monarch, after the victories gained over them at Luncarty near Perth, at Barrie in the county of Angus, and at Mortlach in the county of Banff. There are many monuments of that nation; the most remarkable of which is Sweno's ftone or pillar, on the road from Nairn and Forres, in the parish of Rafford. Except freeftone, limestone, and marl, no mineral fubftance of value has been discovered.

ELI, high priest of the Ifraelites, and judge over them for forty years, was defcended from Ithamar, a junior branch of the house of Aaron, and seems to have blended the priestly with the judicial character in the year 1156 before the commencement of the Christian æra. It appears that the Jews were in a ftate of fubjection or vaffalage to the Philiftines during the greater part of Eli's adminiftration, and, what may at first appear fingular, he contributed to the degeneracy of his countrymen, although his own piety and goodness were

unquestionably great. He did not exert his magisterial authority in the exemplary punishment of vice, and even permitted his own fons with impunity to perpetrate the most atrocious acts of impiety and debauchery. This want of firmnefs, to give it no worse a name, was very reprehenfible in one who filled fuch an important office, and peculiarly fo in a man who was himfelf a faint.

The celebrated Samfon made his appearance during the administration of Eli, taking part in the management of public affairs for about 20 years, by whose astonishing deeds the independent fpirit of that people was in fome measure revived. The circumstances attending the death of Samfon, which proved fo calami. tous to the nobility of the Philiftines, might have induced the Jews to throw off the yoke; but they did not poffefs a fufficient degree of virtue and public fpirit for fuch an exertion. Eli at this period was very far advanced in years, and, if poffible, ftill more negligent in the discharge of his duty as a chief magiftrate, allowing his two fons, Hophni and Phineas, to proceed to the most extravagant height of impiety and debauchery, whofe example had a moft powerful influence on the manners of the people. He was far from being unacquainted with their conduct, but he reproved them with fuch gentleness as was highly reprehenfible, and but ill calculated to produce any change on the behaviour of his fons.

The deity was fo juftly offended with this deportment of Eli, that a facred feer was commiffioned to upbraid him for his ingratitude and want of refolution. Young Samuel likewife was favoured with a vifion of the approaching ruin of Eli's family, which he related to the otherwife venerable old man, on being folemnly adjured not to conceal a fingle circumftance. When Eli heard the declaration of the young prophet, being fully convinced that his conduct had been highly reprehenfible, he exclaimed, "It is the Lord; let him do what feemeth him good." Soon after this the Ifraelites fuftained a confiderable lofs in attempting to procure their emancipation, carrying the ark of God into their camp to animate the people, and intimidate their enemies; but the ark was captured by the Philiftines, and Hophni and Phineas were flain. This intelligence having been brought to Eli, he no fooner heard that the ark of God was taken, than he fell backwards from his feat, broke his neck, and died in the 98th year of his age.

ELIAS, the prophet, memorable for having efcaped the common catastrophe of mankind; being taken up alive into heaven, in a fiery chariot, about 895 B. C. See the Bible.

ELIJAH, who is fometimes denominated Elias, was one of the moft diftinguished of the Jewish prophets, and furnamed the Tifbbite, probably from the district in which he was born. He began his prophetic office about 920 years before Chrift, in the reign of wicked Ahab, by whom the Sidonian idolatry was introduced among the Ifraelites. The prophet was commiffioned to appear before this impious prince, and threaten the country with a long drought as a punishment for his crimes. The indignation of Ahab was fo great against the prophet for this prediction, that he refolved to punish him in a signal manner; but Elijah withdrew to

Elijah. a fecret place from his fury, at the divine command, where he was fuftained in a miraculous manner. He was afterwards ordered to go to Sarepta, in the territory of Sidon, where a miraculous interpofition of heaven, in the house of an indigent widow, fuftained him for fome time, whofe fon the prophet restored to life.

When the three years of famine, occafioned by the drought, were expired, the prophet was ordered to appear before the king, and exhort him to that genuine repentance which an interpofition of the deity fo very remarkable unquestionably demanded. He had an interview with Obadiah, the governor of the king's house, who was a religious man, and had frequently fcreened many from the vengeance of Jezebel the queen, at the hazard of his own life. Fired with undaunted fortitude, the prophet said to Obadiah," Go, tell thy lord, behold Elijah is here." The good man's regard for the prophet was fo great, that he was afraid to deliver this meffage, fince he knew that Ahab had used every effort to discover the prophet's retreat. The king was informed of his coming; and the first interview was diftinguished by invectives on the part of the intrepid prophet and the proud fovereign, the former giving a promife of rain on the following terms. The priests of the Sidonian gods, and an affembly of the people of If rael, were to meet on Mount Carmel, where the prophet Elijah intended to give an inconteftable proof of the almighty power of the God of Ifrael, and the total infignificance of the Sidonian divinities. For a detailed account of this memorable experiment, we must refer our readers to the book of Kings, as an abridgement of such a beautiful narration would do it manifeft injury. - It produced the fulleft conviction in the minds of the Ifraelites, that Jehovah alone was entitled to adoration; and the priests of Baal were inftantaneously put to death, as the most abominable perverters of the divine law.

This was followed by abundance of rain, in answer to the devout prayers of the prophet; but his glorious triumph over idolatry fo exafperated Jezebel, that the refolved to murder the prophet, to avoid whofe rage he fled into the wilderness, till the deity again employed him in the honourable, but often hazardous, duties of a prophet. He afterwards foretold that Hazael fhould be king of Syria, Jehu king over Ifrael; and he appointed Elisha the fon of Shaphat to be his own fucceffor. He denounced dreadful judgments against Ahab and his wicked queen Jezebel; but thofe which refpected the king were not executed during his life, on account of the genuine repentance which he discovered. The fucceffor of Ahab having been confined to bed in confequence of an accident, the god of Ekron was confulted relative to his recovery, which induced the prophet to declare that he should affuredly die. The king being informed that it was Elijah who dared to fend fuch a meffage, he dispatched a captain and 50 men to force him into the royal prefence; but they were deftroyed by fire from heaven, and a fecond company fhared the fame fate. A third company confeffed the visible interference of heaven in the prophet's behalf, and the captain throwing himself on the mercy of Elijah, went with him to the king. In the royal prefence be undauntedly repeated the fame denunciation against the idolatrous monarch, which was very foon accom

Elis.

plished; and not long after this the holy prophet, at Elijah the divine command, divided asunder the waves of Jordan, dropped his prophetic mantle to the aftonished Elisha, took the flaming chariot commiffioned for his reception, and rode in majefty to heaven.

ELIQUATION, in Chemistry, an operation by which a more fufible fubftance is feparated from one that is lefs fo, by means of a heat fufficiently intense to melt the former, but not the latter. Thus an alloy of copper and lead may be separated by a heat capable of melting the latter, but not the former. ELIS. See ELEA.

ELIS, in Ancient Geography, the capital of the diftrict of that name in Peloponnefus, fituated on the Peneus, which ran through it. It was the country of Phædo the philofopher, scholar of Socrates, and friend of Plato; who infcribes with his name the dialogue on the immortality of the foul. Pyrrho alfo was of this city, at the head of the fect called after him Pyrrhonifs.

The city of Elis owed its origin to an union of fmall towns after the Perfian war. It was not encompaffed immediately with a wall; for it had the care of the temple at Olympia, and its territory was folemnly confecrated to Jupiter. To invade or not protect it was deemed impiety; and armies, if marching through, delivered up their weapons, which, on their quitting it, were restored. Amid warring states the city enjoyed repofe, was reforted to by ftrangers, and flourished. The region round about it was called cœle or hollow, from the inequalities. The country was reckoned fertile, and particularly fit for the raising of flax. This, which grew nowhere elfe in Greece, equalled the produce of Judæa in fineness, but was not fo yellow. Elis was a fchool, as it were, for Olympia, which was diftant 37 miles. The athletic exercifes were performed there, before the more folemn_trial, in a gymnafium, by which the Peneus ran. The helanodics or præfects of the games paired the rival combatants by lot, in an area called Plethrum or The Acre. Within the wall grew lofty plane trees; and in the court, which was called the Xyftus, were feparate courfes made for the foot races. A smaller court was called the Quadrangle. The præfects, when chosen, refided for ten months in a building erected for their use, to be inftructed in the duties of their office. They attended before funrise to prefide at the races; and again at noon, the time appointed for the pentathlum or five fports. The horses were trained in the agora or market-place, which was called the Hippodrome. In the gymnafium were altars and a cenotaph of Achilles. The women, befides other rites, beat their bofoms in honour of this hero, on a fixed day towards funfet. There alfo was the townhall, in which extemporary harangues were spoken and compofitions recited. It was hung round with bucklers for ornaments. A way led from it to the baths through the Street of Silence; and another to the market place, which was planned with ftreets between porticoes of the Doric order adorned with altars and images. Among the temples, one had a circular periftyle or colonnade; but the image had been removed and the roof was fallen in the time of Paufanias. The theatre was ancient, as was alfo a temple of Bacchus, one of the deities principally adored at Elis. Minerva had a temple in the citadel, with an image of ivory and gold, made

C 2

(it