PILLAGE OF THE TEMPLES. 321 dency, in the permanent mastery of Olympia. But in spite of such apparent promise, it was an event which carried in itself the seeds of violent reaction. "We cannot doubt that the crowd of Grecian spectators present were not merely annoyed by the interruption of the proceedings and by the demolition of their tents, but also deeply shocked by the outrage to the sacred ground, " imminen- tium templorum religio." 1 Most of them probably believed the Eleians to be the rightful presidents, having never either seen or heard of any one else in that capacity. And they could hardly help feeling strong sympathy for the unexpected courage of these dis- possessed presidents ; which appeared so striking to Xenophon (himself perhaps a spectator) that he ascribes it to a special inspi- ration of the gods. 2 If they disapproved of the conduct of the Arcadians and Fieatans as an unjust intrusion, they would disapprove yet more of that spoliation of the rich temples at Olympia, whereby the intruders rewarded themselves. The Arcadians, always on the look-out for plunder and pay as mercenary soldiers, found themselves sup- plied with both, in abundant measure, from this war: the one from the farms, the stock, and the field-laborers, of the Eleian neighborhood generally, more plentiful than in any part of Pelo ponnesus ; 3 the other from the ample accumulation, both of money and of precious offerings, distributed over the numerous temples at Olympia. The Pisatans, now installed as administrators, would readily consent to appropriate these treasures to the pay of their own defenders, whom they doubtless considered as acting in the service of the Olympian Zeus. Accordingly the Epariti, the militia of joint Arcadia, were better paid than ever they had been before so that the service attracted numerous volunteers of the poorer class. 4 1 Tacitus, Hist, i, 40. He is describing the murder of Galba in the Fo- ram at Rome, by the Othonian soldiers : " Igitur milites Romani, quasi Vologesen aut Pacorum avito Arsacida- rum solio depulsuri, ac non Imperatorem suum, inermem et senem, truci- dare pergerent disject^ plebe, proculcato Senatu, truces armis, rapidis equis, forum irrumpunt : nee illos Capitolii aspectus, et imminentium tem- plorum religio, et priores et futuri Principes, tcrruere, quominus facerent icelus, cujus ultor est quisquis successit." 2 Xen. Hellen. vii, 4, 32 3 Xen. Hellen. iii, 2, 26; Polybius, iv, 73. * Xen. Hellen. vii, 4, 33, 34 VOL. x. 14* 21oc.
