An Athenian Festival, celebrated every fifth Year in honour of Her∣cules (b) 1.1.
The Thisbians also, and Thebans in Boeotia, observ'd a Solemn Festival in honour of Hercules, sirnam'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. Apples, were offer'd to him (c) 1.2: The Original of which Custom was thus: It being usual in former Times to offer a Sheep at this Solemnity, it happen'd once that the River Asopus had so far overflow'd it's Banks, that it could not be forded, whereby the coming of the Vi∣ctim was hindred: The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is ambiguous in Greek, signi∣fying sometimes a Sheep, sometimes an Apple; which some of the Boys being aware of, for want of other Employment, perform'd the holy Rites in Sport, offering, instead of the Ram, an Apple, which they supported with four Sticks, in imitation of Feet, placing two more upon the Top of it, to branch out like Horns: Hercules was mightily taken with the ••est, and the Custom was continu'd fro•• that Time to my Author's Age, who flourish'd under Commodus, the Roman Emperour.
At Sicyon Hercules was honour'd with a Festival, which lasted two Days, the former of which was call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; the latter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
At Lindus there was a Solemnity in honour of Hercules, at which nothing was heard, but Execrations, and Ill-boding Words; inso∣much that if any Person happen'd to let fall a Lucky Speech, he was thought to have profan'd the holy Rites; the Original of which Custom is accounted for by Lactantius.