alectryonomachia

(ἀλεκτρυονομαχία). The public cock-fight, which was held every year in one of the theatres of Athens. Cock-fights, in general, were exceedingly common among the Greeks and Romans; but the origin of this one in particular, which was sanctioned by the laws of the state, is not known, though Aelian says that when Themistocles marched with his Athenians against the Persians, he saw two cocks fighting against each other, and took the opportunity of addressing his soldiers, reminding them that these cocks were neither fighting for their country nor for the gods, but only for victory. This speech is said to have greatly animated the courage of the Athenians; and, after the war, they commemorated the event which had proved so useful to them by the annual festival in the theatre. (Aelian, V. H. ii. 28.)