Themis, a study of the social origins of Greek ... - Warburg Institute

226 The Origin of the Olyminc Games [ch.
A cycle such as this is obviously a late and very artificial
invention, implying fairly exact astronomical knowledge. It is
independent of the seasons and concerned solely with the motions of
the sun and moon. There is no reason why it should begin at the
same season as the pastoral or the agricultural year. The most
propitious moment would be the summer, as near as can con-
veniently be managed 1 to the summer solstice, when the sun is at
the height of his power. The moon too is taken at the full. The
union of the full moon and the full-grown Sun is one form—the
astronomical—of that sacred marriage which in many parts of the
ancient world was celebrated at midsummer. This union, we
suggest, is symbolised by the marriage of Pelops and Hippodameia.
The suggestion has the support of Dr Frazer's high authority.
He gives reason for holding that 'under the names of Zeus and
Hera the pair of Olympic victors ' (that is, the victor in the chariot-
race and the girl who won the virgin's race at the Heraea, which
we shall discuss later) ' would seem to have really personated the
sun and moon, who were the true heavenly bridegroom and bride
2 .'
of the ancient octennial festival
Thus the second factor under consideration—the marriage of
Pelops and Hippodameia— is explained. It was symbolised, as we
saw, by the flight of bride and bridegroom in the same chariot.
As such it appears in the design (Fig. 58) of a red-figured
amphora 3 with twisted handles. Hippodameia stands erect,
1 Some mention will be made later (p. 230) of the difficulties which seem to
have forced the founders of the cycle to choose just this part of the summer. The
month Apollonios corresponded with the Delphic Bukatios (Pythian Games) and
the Laconian Karneios (festival of the Karneia). It was clearly convenient to fix
these greater festivals at a time when the labours of harvest were well over and
agricultural work was at a standstill. Earlier writers, for instance Boeckh and
Ideler, believed that the Games were held at the first full moon after the summer
solstice.
- See Part in. of the Golden Bough, ed. 3, p. 91. Dr Frazer arrived at this
conclusion some years ago, and, after hearing that I had reached it also, kindly
allowed me to see the proofs from which the above sentence is quoted. I believe
the explanation was first suggested to me by one of Mr A. B. Cook's articles on
The European Sky-God in Folk-Lore xv. p. 377 ff.
3 Now in the Museo Pubblico at Arezzo. First published in the Monimenti
(via. 3) of the German Archaeological Institute. I am glad to find that Prof.
Furtwangler in commenting on this vase has pointed out that the scene here and
on the other Oinomaos vases is a rape rather than a race. He writes (Griechische
Vasenmalerei, Serie n. Taf. 67, Text p. 34) 'Dass die Fahrten der Freier der Hippodameia
und damit die des Pelops urspriinglich nicht als Wettrennen sondern als
EntfiihruDg, als Brautraub gemeint und Oinomaos der Verfolger war, dies ist in
den verschiedenen Sagenvarianten, und in den Kunstdenkmalern immer deutlich
geblieben.' Prof. Furtwangler makes the interesting suggestion that this vase is
from the hand of the same master as the famous Talos vase in Ruvo.