PHILOSTRATOS AND THE PENTATHLON

The final picture of the pentathlon competition which this study outlines is, in the end, very close to the revised plan of H. A. Harris. Only winners in the triad go on to the stade race and, if necessary, to the wrestling. Different from Harris is the suggestion that elimination of contestants began early in the competition, a suggestion based on a new interpretation of a vexing passage from Philostratos which Harris and others have discounted because of its unreasonable appearance. It appears now that Philostratos myth is not only reasonable but is especially suitable to the pentathlon. Jason is an especially appropriate figure to associate with the invention of the pentathlon. Himself a second-class. © 1991, The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies. All rights reserved.