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Ariadne/Chapter Eighteen: The Olympics

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Chapter Eighteen:
The Olympics

The preparations were over, and it was time for the contestants to leave for the Olympics.

The sculptor Nev, though he was only a candidate for the School, also went with the Pythagoreans to the Olympics to make sketches for his future creations.

The send-off was very stately. Many Crotonians also came to the wharf to see the vessels leaving for Elis and to wish the contestants success. Solemn speeches and music could be heard.

… After the departure of all the competitors, Ariadne and Ferenika found themselves in a kind of pause. The many cares for the guests, which had long occupied all their time, were now over.

* * *

The wait for the return of the Olympic participants was long.

Traditionally, the Olympic events were preceded by long ceremonies, a registration of all the athletes, a performance of oaths that they had to take, and a choosing of judges.

And after the competitions, there was a series of festivities, awards, presentations, and speeches.

… The students who remained in the School had ample time to take stock of their own learning. Such recapitulation was one of the rules of life recommended by Pythagoras. He taught that it was necessary to reconsider everything that had been done or not done and to set new tasks for oneself. Such actions filled the life of the Pythagoreans with awareness. This also allowed them to see the progress of their own development and to see clearly what should be changed and improved in themselves.

The Pythagoreans’ understanding that everything that happens in their lives takes place before the Divine Consciousness, and that everything in their lives is known to God — taught them to take responsibility for their thoughts and deeds.

It was recommended to perform this kind of reviewing both before going to bed each day and after the passage of longer periods of time, which made it easier to mark the already passed stages of the soul’s development. Such a review — together with God — of what one has already achieved in spiritual development and works of service, and trying to understand how to act correctly in one’s upcoming tasks, became one of the habits for harmonious and pure living. And then, gradually, God — as a constant Witness of everything that happens in one’s life — would become the Main Component in living a life with an awareness of Oneness with the Whole.

… Recently, much had changed in the lives of Ariadne and Ferenika. Some of this was important, and the friends discussed it among themselves. Despite the fact that they were very different in character and in their progress in the spiritual life, these conversations over the years helped both of them to understand what was happening to them.

A trusting conversation, a welcoming look from someone close to them — this aspect of friendship between students at the School was considered very helpful.

But idle chatter, which people were sometimes prone to, was certainly not welcome.

Ferenika shared her plans with Ariadne:

“Nev and I want to be a family. So, now I probably won’t be able to do so much spiritual practice… Do you think Pythagoras will be unhappy with this decision of mine?”

“I suppose he would approve of your choice. You’ll be able to help Nev to master what you already know — and that will help in his spiritual advancement as well as yours. And whether your spiritual life will become more intense or whether everything will be let go — that depends only on you!”

“What about you and Hamilcar? I see that there is something between you too, am I right?”

“I don’t know yet, Ferenika… I’ve hardly talked with him about it. Nevertheless, everything that happens between us is real and can be felt in the Divine Space. And our bodies do not even need to be side by side to continue to feel and give our love to one another… True, he told me that he would be glad if I went with him to Carthage. But perhaps this is where I will be more needed by the School. I know that I have been a good wife and mother in many past lives, and, as a soul, I do not need to experience family life again. But love is so magical and multifaceted! And with Hamilcar… — what we experience is always united with the Love of the Divine into One Indivisible Whole… I cannot put it into words!...

“Pythagoras told me yesterday that he would let me go with Hamilcar if I myself wished it. It is still difficult for me to make a choice and to understand: what in this is my personal emotions only and what is God’s Will? But if I go, I will leave the house to you. And all the duties of receiving guests will then be yours and Nev’s. Do you agree?”

“Yes. But how I’ll miss you, my friend!”

… Ariadne and Ferenika embraced.

* * *

The return of the Olympians was even more stately and joyful than the send-off. Almost all the people of Croton, not just the Pythagoreans, welcomed the Olympians. The winners of the games were honored as great heroes!

In the School, all the participants — both the winners and non-winners — were greeted with equal joy!

For the disciples of Pythagoras, the main result of the Olympics was not in winning some of the contests but in the fact that the knowledge of the School would spread far and wide throughout many cities of Greece. And also that this day — together with the participants of the competitions — new candidates for the School arrived and were filled with a desire to become part of the Pythagorean Brotherhood.

The main goal of the trip to the Olympics was to bring to people the spiritual knowledge of the School and, therefore, the winners were all those who made an effort to do so.

The speeches of Pythagoras’ students were very interesting to the participants and spectators of the Olympic Games! And examples of the behavior of the Pythagoreans in different situations were so sublime that many people had a desire to learn more about Pythagoras and about his School.

Fifteen candidates for discipleship made up their minds and arrived now in Croton. Here, they were all interviewed by Pythagoras, and many of them were accepted into the School!

Among those accepted, was the sculptor Nev.

He told Ariadne and Ferenika in detail about everything he had witnessed at the Olympic Games.

One of the most talked about events of the competition was what Hamilcar did. He was the clear leader in the quadriga race, and only shortly before the finish, he held back the horses and let a young man who was eager to win, win. This young man of noble birth was not only a charioteer, but also the owner of a chariot. And he dreamed of winning.

This young man could easily have been the best of all the others in the race — and only Hamilcar was confidently ahead of him. This young man had not failed to notice Hamilcar’s actions. He was so shocked by his action, by his willingness to give another the glory of being the winner, that he talked a lot with Hamilcar and with other Pythagoreans after the race. And now, this young man was among those who had come with the desire of becoming disciples of Pythagoras. And he was accepted!

Nev was also delighted by a remarkable episode when a young Pythagorean named Eskendir won the wrestling competition. This slender young man, quite frail in appearance, was the winner in all competitions with other athletes who had strongly pumped muscles and large bodies. In fact, the young man was so frail in appearance that the officials tried to dissuade him from competing, but he, nevertheless, emerged victorious and showed a strength of spirit and body that far surpassed the bodily strength of the others.

Nev also showed his drawings, told of the other kinds of contests, and recounted in detail many of the speeches he had heard.

* * *

The time for the return home of all those who did not live in Croton was approaching. Konstantinos was also leaving — for the sake of establishing a new branch of the School.

… Ariadne and Hamilcar walked along the seashore. Azure waves caressed the shore. Seagulls soared over the expanse. Flowering trees filled the air with a gentle fragrance.

Hamilcar said:

“Things are not as simple there in Carthage, as they are here in Croton… The Phoenicians do not like the Greeks and oppose the Greek influence by all means. The local religious beliefs there are much more violent than the cults of worship here in the Greek polities. The council of elders, which owns both the city and the country, does not like what we are doing in our little branch. The situation is the opposite of that here in Croton, where the authorities are quite loyal to the School and support Pythagoras in many ways. They even sometimes follow his advice.

“The priests of Baal Hammon also dislike me and take every opportunity to hinder the spread of the purity of the true Knowledge. We are surrounded there by a very hostile environment and even the danger of open attack persists. You should think carefully before you decide to leave.

“Many of my disciples, on the contrary, want to stay here, in Croton, and continue their studies under Pythagoras himself. Therefore, those few of us who will be returning, will have to start there almost from the beginning …”

… Ariadne looked up and met Hamilcar’s gaze:

“So you and God will need my help there! This gives me the determination to come with you!”