The Shorter Writings by Xenophon & Gregory A. McBrayer

Author:Xenophon & Gregory A. McBrayer [Xenophon & McBrayer, Gregory A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781501718502
Publisher: CornellUP
Published: 2018-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 3

(1) The following things, surely, the cavalry commander must himself take care of: first, how he will obtain fine omens when he sacrifices to the gods on behalf of the cavalry; then, how he will make the processions in the festivals most worthy of being seen; next, how he will make all the other displays that must be made to the city as beautiful as possible—those in the Academy, those in the Lyceum, those at Phaleron, and those in the hippodrome. These too are other notes; but how each of these displays would be executed as beautifully as possible, these are the things I will now say.

(2) As for the processions, I think they would be most gratifying to both the gods and the spectators if [the horsemen] were to start from the busts of Hermes and ride in a circle around the marketplace and the temples, honoring the gods whose temples and statues are in the marketplace. (And at the Dionysia the choruses gratify by their dancing both the other gods and the Twelve.23) When the riders have circled around and are back again at the Herms, it seems to me to be beautiful to let the horses go from this point at top speed, tribe by tribe, as far as the Eleusinion.24 (3) Nor will I leave aside how the riders’ lances might least interfere with one another: each must hold it between his horse’s ears, if they are going to be both frightening and kept separated, while at the same time appearing to be numerous. (4) When they stop charging at top speed, it is then beautiful for them to ride at a slow pace the rest of the way back to the temple, by the path they took before. And in this way everything possible to see performed by a mounted horse will be put on display for both gods and human beings.

(5) Of course I know that our horsemen are not habituated to do these things, but I also recognize that they will be good and beautiful and for the spectators pleasant. And I perceive that the horsemen introduced innovations also in other contests when the cavalry commanders were sufficient to persuade them of what they wished.

(6) Now when they ride through the Lyceum, before the javelin throwing, it is beautiful for them to ride on a broad front in two divisions of five tribes each,25 as though in battle, with the cavalry commander and the colonels in the lead, in an order such that they fill the breadth of the course. (7) Then, as soon as they surmount the summit looking down on the theater facing them, I think it would be manifestly useful if you would display in groups of limited numbers those of your horsemen who are able to ride swiftly downhill. (8) I am certainly not ignorant of this, that if they trust that they are able to ride fast, they would take great pleasure in making this display. But if they do not practice it, one must see to it that the enemy does not compel them to do it.

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