Pan a thenæa

, festivals in honour of Minerva the patrone of Athens. They were first instituted by Erechtheus or Orpheus, and called Athenæa , but These us afterwards renewed them, and caused them to be celebrated and observed by all the tribes of Athens, which he had united into one, and from this reason the festivals received their name. Some suppose that they are the same as the Roman Quinquatria , as they are often called by that name among the Latins. In the first years of the institution, they were observed only during one day, but afterwards the time was prolonged, and the celebration was attended with greater pomp and solemnity. The festivals were two; the great Pan a thenæa ( μεγαλα ), which were observed every fifth year, beginning on the 22nd of the month called Hecatombæon , or the 7th of July; and the le er Pan a thenæa ( μικρα ), which were kept every third year, or rather annually, beginning on the 20th or 21st of the month called Thar gel i on , corresponding to the 5th or 6th day of the month of May. In the le er festivals there were three games conducted by 10 presidents chosen from the 10 tribes of Athens, who continued four years in office. On the evening of the first day there was a race with torches, in which men on foot, and afterwards on horseback, contended. The same was also exhibited in the greater festivals. The second combat was gymnical, and exhibited a trial of strength and bodily dexterity. The last was a musical contention, first instituted by Pericles. In the songs they celebrated the generous undertaking of Harmodius and Aristo git on, who opposed the Pisistratidæ, and of Thrasybulus, who delivered Athens from its 30 tyrants. Phrynis of Mitylene was the first who obtained the victory by playing upon the harp. There were, besides, other musical instruments, on which they played in concert, such as flutes, . The poets contended in four plays, called from their number τετραλογια . The last of these was a satire. There was also at Sunium an imitation of a naval fight. Whoever obtained the victory in any of these games was rewarded with a ve el of oil, which he was permitted to dispose of in whatever manner he pleased, and it was unlawful for any other person to transport that commodity. The conqueror also received a crown of the olives which grew in the groves of Academus, and were sacred to Minerva, and called μορειαι , from μορος , death , in remembrance of the tragical end of Hallirhotius the son of Neptune, who cut his own legs when he attempted to cut down the olive which had given the victory to Minerva in preference to his father, when these two deities contended about giving a name to Athens. Some suppose that the word is derived from μερος , a part , because these olives were given by contribution by all such as attended at the festivals. There was also a dance called Pyrrhic hi a , performed by young boys in armour, in imitation of Minerva, who thus expre ed her triumph over the vanquished Titans. Gladiators were also introduced when Athens became tributary to the Romans. During the celebration no person was permitted to appear in dyed garments, and if any one transgre ed he was punished according to the discretion of the president of the games. After these things, a sumptuous sacrifice was offered, in which every one of the A then i an boroughs contributed an ox, and the whole was concluded by an entertainment for all the company with the flesh that remained from the sacrifice. In the greater festivals, the same rites and ceremonies were usually observed, but with more solemnity and magnificence. Others were also added, particularly the proce ion, in which Minerva’s sacred πεπλος , or garment , was carried. This garment was woven by a select number of virgins, called ἐργαστικαι , from ἐργον , work . They were superintended by two of the ἀρρηφοροι , or young virgins, not above 17 years of age nor under 11, whose garments were white and set off with ornaments of gold. Minerva’s peplus was of a white colour, without sleeves, and embroidered with gold. Upon it were described the achievements of the godde , particularly her victories over the giants. The exploits of Jupiter and the other gods were also represented there, and from that circumstance men of courage and bravery are said to be ἀξιοι πεπλου , worthy to be portrayed on Minerva’s sacred garment. In the proce ion of the peplus , the following ceremonies were observed. In the ceramic us , without the city, there was an engine built in the form of a ship, upon which Minerva’s garment was hung as a sail, and the whole was conducted, not by beasts, as some have supposed, but by subterraneous machines, to the temple of Ceres Eleusinia, and from thence to the citadel, where the peplus was placed upon Minerva’s statue, which was laid upon a bed woven or strewed with flowers, which was called πλακις . Persons of all ages, of every sex and quality, attended the proce ion, which was led by old men and women carrying olive branches in their hands, from which reason they were called θαλλοφοροι , bearers of green boughs . Next followed men of full age with shields and spears. They were attended by the μετοικοι , or foreigners , who carried small boats as a token of their foreign origin, and from that account they were called σκαφηφοροι , boat-bearers . After them came the women, attended by the wives of the foreigners, called ὑδριαφοροι , because they carried water-pots . Next to these came young men crowned with millet and singing hymns to the godde , and after them followed select virgins of the noblest families, called κανηφοροι , basket-bearers , because they carried baskets, in which were certain things nece ary for the celebration, with whatever utensils were also requisite. These several nece aries were generally in the po e ion of the chief manager of the festival called ἀρχιθεωρος , who distributed them when occasion offered. The virgins were attended by the daughters of the foreigners, who carried umbrellas and little seats, from which they were named διφρηφοροι , seat-carriers . The boys, called παιδαμικοι , as it may be supposed, led the rear, clothed in coats generally worn at proce ions. The nece aries for this and every other festival were prepared in a public hall erected for that purpose, between the Piræan gate and the temple of Ceres. The management and the care of the whole was entrusted to the ὑομοφυλακες , or people employed in seeing the rites and ceremonies properly observed. It was also usual to set all prisoners at liberty, and to present golden crowns to such as had deserved well of their country. Some persons were also chosen to sing some of Homer’s poems, a custom which was first introduced by Hipparch us the son of Pis i stratus. It was also customary in this festival, and every other quinquennial festival, to pray for the prosperity of the Platæans, whose services had been so conspicuous at the battle of Marathon. Plutarch , These us .— Pausanias , Arcadia , ch. 2 .— Ælian , Varia Hist or i a , bk. 8 , ch. 2 .— Apollo dor us , bk. 3 , ch. 14 .