Bronze plaque inscribed with a fragmentary text related to the rules of the Olympic Games

This inscription, one of the earliest Elean examples, bears testimony to the functioning of the Olympic Games in the late 6th c. BC.

The text formed part of a set of competition rules, of which two at least concerned wrestling. The inscription aims to prevent any violation by the athlete and the judge, so that the former is protected from possible bias against him and the latter from any attempt at corruption. It is possible that similar plaques applied to the other categories of athletes or only to the rest of the heavy sports, as it appears that a number of general rules.

The characterization of those who violated the law as "guilty of profanity" ([Μ]ΙΑΝΤΕΡΕΣ) is not surprising in Olympia, where such an infringement constituted sacrilege. It also seems that the fine which the culprits had to pay, but also the promise (ΥΠΑΣΧΕΣΕΟΝ[ΤΑΙ]) they had to make to the judge not to commit other offenses were determined.

Reference to women who, nonetheless, did not have the right to participate or attend the Olympic Games, is undoubtedly made in order to exclude any case of bias on the part of the Elean judge.