"* * * There upon the ocean's side They found the people offering coal black steers To dark haired Neptune. On nine seats they sat, Five hundred on each seat; nine steers were slain For each five hundred there." There was also a great difference between the foods of the ordinary people and that of the heroes described in the classics. According to Homer, who was probably guilty of exaggeration, the athletes consumed enormous quantities of various meats (roasted or broiled, by the way--never boiled), which comprised their entire diet with the exception of wine and bread. Beef, mutton, venison, and especially pork, were mentioned. "He spake and girt his tunic round his loins And hastened to the sties in which the herds Of swine were lying. Thence he took out two And slaughtered them and scraped them, sliced the flesh And fried it upon spits and when the whole Was roasted, brought and placed it reeking hot, Still in the spits and sprinkled with white meal." Fish and cheese were only considered worthy of the athletic when animal flesh was scarce. Nor were these giants possessed of very fastidious palates. "* * * * At the fire Already lie the paunches of two goats Preparing for our evening meal, and both Are filled with fat and blood." "* * * * As one turns and turns The stomach of a bullock filled with fat And blood before a fiercely blazing fire And wishes it were done * * * *." The hospitality of the early Grecians was unbounded. The high moral and social standard of the masses of the people rendered it possible to extend greater courtesy towards strangers than would have been deemed prudent in later days. Every stranger or traveller who knocked at the door of a residence was sure of a welcome. No questions were asked him until he had been generously entertained in every feasible manner, for he stood under the protection of Zeus Xenios, guardian of the guest. This lavish friendliness was probably caused by, or was perhaps itself the cause of, the scarcity of hostelries of reputable character. A spirit of compassion also existed, as it was then considered an ill fortune that made one journey far from home.