DISCUS

(Yunanca köken — orijinale bakınız.) The ancient quoit, which consisted of a heavy circular ma of iron, sometimes perforated in the middle. In the ancient game, the players did not try to hit a mark, but to throw the quoit to the greatest po ible distance. There is a discus preserved in the Cabinet of Antiques at Paris, in which holes are provided for the thumb and fingers. The practice of throwing discs is mentioned by Homer among the sports which occurred at the funeral of Patroclus; and Pindar celebrates Castor and lolaus as skilful launchers of the discus. [s. 363]