D – Diogenes the Cynic at the Isthmian Games, Dio Chrysostom 8.13, 15

[13] Τίνας μήν; ἤρετο. Τοὺς πόνους, ἔφη, μάλα ἰσχυρούς τε καὶ ἀνικήτους ὑπὸ ἀνθρώπων  ἐμπεπλησμένων καὶ τετυφωμένων καὶ τὰς μὲν ἡμέρας ὅλας ἐσθιόντων, ἐν δὲ ταῖς νυξὶ ῥεγκόντων, ὑπὸ δὲ ἀνδρῶν ἡττωμένους λεπτῶν τε καὶ ἀσάρκων καὶ τῶν σφηκῶν τὰς γαστέρας μᾶλλον ἐντετμημένων. . . . [15] οἶμαι γὰρ αὐτοὺς τῶν ὑῶν ἥττονα ψυχὴν ἔχειν. ὁ δὲ ἀνὴρ ὁ γενναῖος ἡγεῖται τοὺς πόνους ἀνταγωνιστὰς μεγίστους, καὶ τούτοις ἀεὶ φιλεῖ μάχεσθαι καὶ τὴν νύκτα καὶ τὴν ἡμέραν, οὐχ ὑπὲρ σελίνου, ὥσπερ αἱ αἶγες, οὐδὲ κοτίνου καὶ πίτυος, ἀλλὰ ὑπὲρ εὐδαιμονίας καὶ ἀρετῆς παρὰ πάντα τὸν βίον, οὐχ ὅταν Ἠλεῖοι προείπωσιν ἢ Κορίνθιοι ἢ τὸ κοινὸν Θετταλῶν.

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Wild celery crown
Wild celery crown (σέλινον}, prize for winners for the Nemean Games. “Winners’ Rewards.” Learning about the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Olive wreath
Olive wreath (κότινος), prize for winners at the Olympic Games. Wikimedia Commons.
Fresh pine wreath
Fresh wreath of pine (πίτυς) from Isthmia. Photo credit: Oscar Broneer. “The Isthmian Victory Crown.” American Journal of Archaeology 66.3 (1962) 259-263.