Thesmophŏra

, a surname of Ceres, as lawgiver, in whose honour festivals were instituted called Thesmophoria . The Thesmophoria were instituted by Trip tole mus, or, according to some, by Orpheus, or the daughters of Danaus. The greatest part of the Grecian cities, especially Athens, observed them with great solemnity. The worshippers were free-born women, whose husbands were obliged to defray the expenses of the festival. They were a isted by a priest called στεφανοφορος , because he carried a crown on his head. There were also certain virgins who officiated, and were maintained at the public expense. The freeborn women were dre ed in white robes, to intimate their spotle innocence; they were charged to observe the strictest chastity during three or five days before the celebration, and during the four days of the solemnity; and on that account it was usual for them to strew their bed with agnus cast us , fleabane , and all such herbs as were supposed to have the power of expelling all venereal propensities. They were also charged not to eat pomegranates, or to wear garlands on their heads, as the whole was to be observed with the greatest signs of seriousne and gravity, without any display of wantonne or levity. It was, however, usual to jest at one another, as the godde Ceres had been made to smile by a merry expre ion when she was sad and melancholy for the recent lo of her daughter Proser pine. Three days were required for the preparation, and upon the 11th of the month called Pyanepsion, the women went to Eleusis, carrying books on their heads, in which the laws which the godde had invented were contained. On the 14th of the same month the festival began, on the 16th day a fast was observed, and the women sat on the ground in token of humiliation. It was usual during the festival to offer prayers to Ceres, Proser pine, Pluto, and Call i gen i a, whom some suppose to be the nurse or favourite maid of the godde of corn, or perhaps one of her surnames. There were some sacrifices of a mysterious nature, and all persons whose offence was small were released from confinement. Such as were initiated at the festivals of Eleusis a isted at the Thesmophoria. The place of high priest was hereditary in the family of Eumolpus. Ovid , Metamorphoses , bk. 10 , li. 431 ; Fasti , bk. 4 , li. 619 .— Apollo dor us , bk. 1 , ch. 4 .— Virgil , Æneid , bk. 4 , li. 58 .— Sophocles , Œdip us at Colonus .— Clement of Alexandria .