Rachel and Diana, seated on either side of Sheshà, in “the best places of all,” as Diana excitedly whispered, looked round them with amazed curiosity. First they let their eyes wander over the rows of spectators, clad in the Greek dress that was still strange to the sight of little English girls. The general colour of the crowd was white, varied by patches of the crimson and green and blue of many of the cloaks. Overhead was the glorious blue sky, and the sun’s rays, warm but not as yet too hot, streamed over and lighted up the wonderful scene, which every moment grew more interesting and animated. “That,” said Sheshà, pointing to the clear space below, “is the place of combat, called the _stadium_. And, now, behold the judges are just about to take their places.” There was a raised platform or daïs in the middle of the stadium, and towards this the children saw several stately figures advancing. In a few moments these men, seated in chairs of a shape like those they had already seen in the home of Agis, had taken up their position on the daïs, each one holding on his knee a crown of olive leaves, and in his hand a palm branch. “What are those for?” Rachel asked. “To crown the victors. They are the only prizes, and are more eagerly coveted than gold or precious stones. To win those simple crowns the youths of Greece train strenuously for years. You have already in Athens seen a gymnasium. That to which Agis belongs, is only one of hundreds, as such training schools exist all over Greece, for the teaching of these physical exercises which have made the Greek nation the most beautiful in the world.... Here come some of the competitors—the _athletes_, to give them the right name. Behold them!” “Oh, look! look, Diana!” shouted Rachel, pointing to where a procession of boys on horseback came riding into the stadium. “What does it remind you of?” asked Diana quickly. “Why, it’s exactly like that marble picture of boys riding we saw—where was it? Why, on the Parthenon temple, of course!” “But we saw it first in the British Museum,” Diana reminded her. “Where it rests now, having been torn from one of the noblest temples in the world,” said Sheshà, sadly. “The sculptor who made that frieze, the great Phidias, must have many times seen processions like to this,” he added, pointing to the beautiful boys who, mounted on no less beautiful horses, were now cantering round the stadium while the crowd applauded loudly. “Yes! Yes! It’s just as though those marble boys had come to life,” declared Diana, excitedly. “Oh, look!” interrupted Rachel, still more thrilled. “There’s Phidolas riding upon his lovely horse! Oh, don’t they look splendid together?” “And there’s Agis!” cried Diana, jumping up and clapping her hands. “Do you see? With a crowd of other boys, just coming in. Oh, this is simply _frightfully_ exciting!” Sheshà laughed. “Listen to the heralds,” he counselled. “The games are just about to begin.”