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Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical AntiquityRydel, Lucjan, Ferenike i Pejsidoros [Pherenice and Peisidoros].Projekt okładki [Cover design by] Leon Urbański. Ilustracje [Illustrationsby] Jerzy Treutler. Warszawa: Nasza Księgarnia, 1970 [ed.pr. 1909]. 108 pp.Text of the editio princeps online: http://jbc.bj.uj.edu.pl/dlibra/docmetadata?id=3170&from=publication (accessed 07.01.2013).Genre: Novella.Summary: An anecdote reported byPausanias in his Description of Greece(5.6.7–8; 6.7.2) is retold by Rydel.Pherenice is the mother of a young athletePeisidoros, who prepares himself toattend the Olympic Games (Rydel datesthem at 428 b.c., although it is moreprobable that those Olympics took placein 404 b.c.). Pherenice’s father and bothof her brothers were Olympic winners,but she, being a woman, was unable towitness their triumphs. She decides todisguise herself as a man and watch her son compete in the Olympics, althoughif discovered, she faces death penalty. The outburst of joy and love at thesight of her son’s victory reveals that she is a woman. Fortunately, theglory of her son’s achievement and the memory of the past triumphs of herfather and brothers save her. She is allowed to share the joy and glory withher son. The story gives Rydel an opportunity to describe the atmosphereof the Olympics — a peaceful gathering of Greeks, including philosophers(Socrates), historians (Herodotus and Thucydides), and dramatists (Sophoclesand Euripides), coming from every polis. He also provides detailed descriptionsof sculptures and architecture found in Olympia at that time.335