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

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

A Festival in honour of Ceres, sirnam'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. Legifera (a) 1.1, or the Law-giver; because she was the first that taught Mankind the use of Laws. The first Institution of it is by some attributed to Tri∣p••olemus, by others to Orpheus, and by others to the Daughters of Da∣••aüs. It was celebrated in a great many of the Grecian Cities; By the Spartans, and Milesians, amongst whom the Solemnity lasted three Days: By the Drymeans in Phocis, the Thebans in Boeotia, the Megarians: By the Syracusians, where towards the end of the Sole∣mnity, they carry'd in Procession the Secrets of a Woman, compos'd of Sesamin and Honey, and call'd in Sicily 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: By the Eretrians in Euboea, where it was customary to rost their Meat by the Heat of the Sun: By the Delians, who us'd to bake Loaves of a large size, call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which they usher'd in with great Solemnity, the Bearers of them crying,

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

Hence the Festival is sometimes call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

But the Athenians observ'd this Festival with greatest Show of De∣votion: The Worshippers were Free-born Women, (it being unlawful for any of Servile Condition to be present) whose Husbands were ••ont to defray the Charges of the Solemnity; and were oblig'd to do so, if their Wives Portion amounted to three Talents. These Women were assisted by a Priest, call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because his Head was adorn'd with a Crown, whilst he executed his Office: as also by certain Virgins, who were straitly confin'd, and kept un∣der severe Discipline, being maintain'd at the Publick Charge, in a place call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Women were clad in white Apparel, to intimate their spotless Innocence; and were oblig'd to the strictest Cha∣stity for five, or three Days before, and during the whole Time of the Solemnity, which lasted four Days: for which end, they us'd to strow upon their Beds such Herbs, as were thought to destroy all Appetite to Venereal Pleasures: such were Agnus castus, Flea-bane, and (which were made use of by the Milesian Women) Vine-branches, &c. It was held unlawful to eat the Kernels of Pomegranates, or adorn them∣selves with Garlands; for every thing was carry'd on with the greatest appearance of Seriousness, and Gravity; and nothing tolerated, that bore the least shew of Wantonness, or Immodesty; or even of Mirth,

or Jollity, the custom of jesting upon one another excepted, which was constantly done, in memory of Iambe, that by a taunting Jest extorted a Smile from Ceres, when she was in a pensive and melan∣choly Humour. Three Days, at least, were spent in making Prepa∣rations for the Festival: Upon the eleventh of Pyanepsion, the Wo∣men carrying Books upon their Heads, wherein the Laws were con∣tain'd, in memory of Ceres's Invention, went to Eleusis, where the So∣lemnity was kept; whence this Day was call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. the Ascent. Upon the fourteenth the Festival began, and lasted till the seventeenth: Upon the sixteenth they kept a Fast, sitting upon the Ground, in token of Humiliation; whence the Day was call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. a Fast. It was usual at this Solemnity to pray to Ceres, Proserpina, Pluto, and Calligenia: this Calligenia some will have to have been Ceres's Nurse, others her Priestess, others her Waiting-maid; and some there are, who make her the same with Ceres; but these seem to be suffi∣ciently refuted by the Testimony of Aristophanes, who mentions her as distinct from that Goddess (a) 1.2;

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

To the two Legislators make your Prayers, To Ceres, and to Goddess Proserpine; To Plutus too, and Calligenia.

And this Custom was omitted by the Eretrians alone of all the Gr••∣cians. There was likewise a Mysterious Sacrifice, call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. because all Men were excluded, and banish'd from it; or, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. because in a dangerous War, the Women's Prayers were so prevalent with the Gods, that their Enemies were defeated, and put to Flight as far as Chalcis; whence it is sometimes call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. There was another Sacrifice, call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. a Mulct, which was offer'd as an Expiation of any Irregularities that happen'd to be committed during the Solemnity. At this Festival, all Prisoners committed to Gaol for smaller Faults, were releas'd; and upon the third Day all Courts of Justice were shut up.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Virgilius Aeneid. IV.
• (a) 1.2

  Thesmoph••r.