Page "Delphi" Paragraph 64

Delphi is famous for its many preserved athletic statues.

It is known that Olympia originally housed far more of these statues, but time brought ruin to many of them, leaving Delphi as the main site of athletic statues.

Kleobis and Biton, two brothers renowned for their strength, are modeled in two of the earliest known athletic statues at Delphi.

The statues commemorate their feat of pulling their mother's cart several miles to the Sanctuary of Hera in the absence of oxen.

The neighbors were most impressed and their mother asked Hera to grant them the greatest gift.

When they entered Hera's temple, they fell into a slumber and never woke, dying at the height of their admiration, the perfect gift.