A Solemnity at Sparta (b) 1.1, in honour of Diana Orthia, so nam'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. from whipping, because it was usual to whip Boys upon the Goddess's Altar. These Boys were, at the first, Free-bor•• Spartans, but, in more delicate Ages, of meaner Birth, being frequently the Off-spring of Slaves; they were call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from the Exer∣cise they underwent at the Altar, which was very severe and cruel; and lest the Officer should out of Compassion remit any thing of the rigour of it, Diana's Priestess stood by all the Time, holding 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her Hand the Goddess's Image, which of it's self was very lig•••• and easy to be born, but if the Boys were spar'd, became so ponde∣rous, that the Priestess was scarce able to support it's weight. And lest the Boys should faint under Correction, or do any thing un∣worthy of Laconian Education, their Parents were usually present, to exhort them to bear whatever was inflicted upon them with Patien•••• and Constancy. And so great was the Bravery and Resolution o•• the Boys, that, tho' they were lash'd till the Blood gush'd out, and sometimes to Death, yet a Cry, or Groan was seldom, or never heard to proceed from any of them. Those of them that dy'd by these Means, were bury'd with Garlands upon their Heads, in token of Joy, or Victory, and had the Honour of a Publick Funeral.
Whence this Custom had it's Original, is not agree'd by Ancien•• Writers. By some it is said to have been one of Lycurgus's Institu∣tions, and design'd for no other End, than to accustom the Youth to endure Pain; thereby to render them fearless and insensible of Wounds. Others will have it to have been done, as a Mitigation of an Oracle, whereby it was commanded that Human Blood should be shed upon Diana's Altar. By some it is reported to have be•••• as ancient as Orestes, who (they say) transplanted out of Scythia in••o Laconia the Image of Diana Taurica, to whom the Scythians us'd to offer Human Victims: this Barbarous piece of Cruelty the L••••••∣monians detested, but withall fearing the Anger of the Goddess, made an Order, that every Year a Boy should be whipp'd upon her Al∣tar, till the Blood gush'd out; that so, if nothing could satisfy Her 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Human Blood, She might not be altogether destitute of it. Lastly, some assign this Cause for it; Pausanias, the Spartan General, as he wa••