All the time that the Games are on, the flies seems to keep a truce with the visitors and the locals in the area. This happens even though there is much blood and meat hanging freely due to the many sacrifices to the Gods. The flies voluntarily go to the other side of Alpheus river, they disappear from the Games.
In many ways there are like the women, only better. Women are not allowed at the games , the rules exclude them and the observers make sure that no women sneak in. But the flies follow this ritual on their own free will for the entire period of the Games.
When all the festivities are over, the return like people that have been exiled. They pour back into the area in great numbers.
On Animals – Aelian