 Diagoras, die!
by Aristomenes of Thoas, Messinian
The Greeks mourn
the blisful death
of the Rhodian boxer
Yesterday, 2nd day of the 73rd Olympiad, a moving event took place here in Olympia. After the end of today's games the winners of the events of wrestling, boxing and pangratium, the Rhodian Acousilaos, Demagetos and Dorieus, sons of the legentary boxer Diagoras, run around the stadium carring their elder father on their shoulders.
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That was the time when the spectator Lacon stood in the middle of the corridor and amidst the sitting Spartan delegation which was watching the games shouted in the Dorian dialect: "Diagoras, die! You won't climb Olympus now!". And in everyone's amazement old Diagoras fell immediately dead in his son's arms by a heart attack as the doctors diagnosed later on from overexcitement. It was as if he accepted the advise of the Spartan spectator to die at this moment since there was no greater happiness for him in life anymore. As a mortal he could not climb Olympus!
A terrible cry of pain filled at that moment the stadium and the spectators attempted to climb down the section of seats and enter the stadium in order to have a better view of the event or even help if they could.
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The ravdouhoi*, following a sign by the President of Ellanodikes**, formed immeditelly a chain and managed to keep the people away. Then there was a strange silence from everyone filled with both joy and sadness as if each one of the spectators was jealous for the honourable and happy death of the old champion. There was one minute of silence when the only thing you could hear was the low crying of Diagoras' sons and of the Rhodian delegation. Everyone thought that the games of the next day would be canceled. But no. After a short meeting of the Ellanodikes it was decided that today the games would take place normally. Today chariot races and horse races are scheduled but the general mood is heavy.
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