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T. IV, Vol. 1
p84 Nicephoria

Article by E. Saglio in

Daremberg & Saglio,
Dictionnaire des Antiquités Grecques et Romaines,
Librairie Hachette et Cie., Paris, 1877‑1919.

translation and © William P. Thayer

Nicephoria (Νικηφόρια). — Games instituted, or rather resumed under this name by Eumenes II, king of Pergamum, in honor of Athena Nicephorus.1 The goddess had an enclosure outside the city with a sacred grove, the Nicephorion, which was restored by Eumenes. The games, which seemed to have existed as early as the time of Attalus I, then took on a new lustre. Eumenes assimilated them to the great games of Greece and invited the Greek cities to take part in them. They were celebrated every three years; they comprised musical, athletic, and equestrian contests. These contests were στεφανῖται, meaning that crowns were given as prizes to the winners [certamina, p1081].2

The Author's Notes:

1 Strabo, XIII.624.

❦

2 Haussoulier, Bull. de corr. hell. V, p378; Fränkel, Alterth. von Pergamon, VIII, p104; cf. Bohn, Ibid., t. II, Das Heiligthum der Athena Polias von Pergamon.

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Page updated: 19 Sep 12