Archæologiæ Græcæ, or, The antiquities of Greece by John Potter ...

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,

An Athenian Festival so call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. from carrying Boughs hung with Grapes, &c. which were call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (d). The Institution, and Manner of it are describ'd at large by Plutarch in the Life of Theseus; his words run thus:

Theseus at his return fro•• Crete forgot to hang out the white Sail, which should have been the token of their Safety to Aegeus, who knowing nothing of their Success, for grief threw himself headlong from a Rock, and perish'd in the Sea. But Theseus being arriv'd at the Port Phalerus, paid there the Sacrifices, which he had vow'd to the Gods at his setting out to Sea, and sent a Herald to the City to carry the news of his safe return. At his entrance into the City the Herald found the People for the most

part full of grief for the loss of their King; others, as may be well be∣liev'd, as full of joy for the Message that he brought, and wholly bent to make much of him, and crown him with Garlands for so acceptable News; these he indeed accepted of, but hung them upon his Herald's Staff, and thus returning to the Sea-side before Theseus had finish'd his Libation to the Gods, stay'd without for fear of disturbing the Holy Rites; but as soon as the Sacrifice was ended, he entred and related the whole Story of the King's Death; upon the hearing of which, with great lamentations, and a confus'd tumult of grief, they ran with all haste to the City: Whence, they say, it comes that at this Day in the Feast Oschophoria, not the Herald, but his Staff is crown'd; and that the People then present still break out at the Sacrifice into this Shout, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of which confus'd sounds the first was wont to be us'd by Men in haste, or at a Triumph; the other is proper to those that are in great trouble, or consternation.

A little after my Author proceeds thus:

The Festival call'd Oschopho∣ria, which to this Day the Athenians celebrate, was then first insti∣tuted by Theseus; for he took not with him the full number of Vir∣gins, which were chosen by Lots to be carry'd away, but selected two Youths, with whom he had an intimate familiarity, of fair and Womanish Faces, but of Manly and Couragious Spirits, and having by frequent Bathings, and avoiding the heat and scorching of the Sun, with a constant use of all the Ointments, Washes, and Dresses, that serve to adorn the Head, smooth the Skin, or improve the Complexion, chang'd them, in a manner, from what they were be∣fore; and having taught them further to counterfeit the very Voice, Gesture, and Gate of Virgins, so that there could not be the least difference perceiv'd; he, undiscover'd by any, put them into the number of the Athenian Maids design'd for Crete. At his return He and these two Youths led up a solemn Procession with Boughs and Vine-branches in their hands, in the same habit that is now worn at the celebration of the Oschophoria: These Branches they carry'd in honour of Bacchus and Ariadne, in memory of the Fable related of them; or rather, because they happen'd to return in Autumn, the time of gathering Grapes. The Women call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. Sup∣per-carryers, were taken into these Ceremonies, and assist at the Sa∣crifice, in remembrance and imitation of the Mothers of the young Men and Virgins, upon whom the Lot fell; for thus busily did they run about, bringing Banquets and Refreshments to their Children; and because the good Women then told their Sons and Daughters a great many fine Tales and Stories, to comfort and encourage them under the Danger they were going upon, it has therefore still conti∣nu'd a Custom, that at this Festival old Tales and Fables should be the chief Discourse. For all these particularities we are beholding to the history of Demon.

Besides the Rites already describ'd out of Plu∣tarch, there was always a Race at this Festival (a); the contenders were

certain Young Men elected out of every Tribe, whose Parents were both living; they ran from Bacchus's Temple, to that of Minerva Sciras in the Phalerian Haven; the place where the Race ended, was call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Boughs, which the Runners carry'd in their Hands, and deposited there. The Conqueror's Reward was a Cup call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. Five-fold, because it con∣tain'd a mixture of five things, viz. Wine, Honey, Cheese, Meal, and a little Oyl.

Notes

• (d)

  Harpocration, Hesychius.
• (a)

  ••ausanias Atticis, A••he••aeus lib. XI. Hesychius, Nicandri Schol. Alexiph••rmacis.