ARRHĒPHŎRĬA

( ἀῤῥηφόρια ), a festival celebrated at Athens in honour of Athena (Minerva). Four girls, of between seven and eleven years ( ἀῤῥηφόροι , ἐρσηφόροι , ἐῤῥηφόροι ), were selected every year by the king archon from the most distinguished families, two of whom superintended the weaving of the sacred peplus of Athena; the two others had to carry the mysterious and sacred ve els of the godde . These latter remained a whole year on the Acropolis; and when the festival commenced, the prieste of the godde placed ve els upon their heads, the contents of which were neither known to them nor to the prieste . With these they descended to a natural grotto within the district of Aphrodite in the gardens. Here they deposited the sacred ve els, and carried back something else, which was covered and likewise unknown to them. After this the girls were dismi ed and others were chosen to supply their place in the acropolis.