Diamastigōsis

, a festival of Sparta in honour of Diana Orthia, which received that name, ἀπο του μαστιγουν , from whipping , because boys were whipped before the altar of the godde . These boys, called Bomonicæ, were originally free-born Spartans; but, in the more delicate ages, they were of mean birth, and generally of a slavish origin. This operation was performed by an officer in a severe and unfeeling manner; and that no compa ion should be raised, the priest stood near the altar with a small light statue of the godde , which suddenly became heavy and insupportable if the lash of the whip was more lenient or le rigorous. The parents of the children attended the solemnity, and exhorted them not to commit anything, either by fear or groans, that might be unworthy of Laconian education. These flagellations were so severe, that the blood gushed in profuse torrents, and many expired under the lash of the whip without uttering a groan, or betraying any marks of fear. Such a death was reckoned very honourable, and the corpse was buried with much solemnity, with a garland of flowers on its head. The origin of this festival is unknown. Some suppose that Lycurgus first instituted it to inure the youths of Lacedæmon to bear labour and fatigue, and render them insensible to pain and wounds. Others maintain that it was a mitigation of an oracle, which ordered that human blood should be shed on Diana’s altar; and according to their opinion, Orestes first introduced that barbarous custom, after he had brought the statue of Diana Tauric a into Greece. There is another tradition, which mentions that Pausanias, as he was offering prayers and sacrifices to the gods, before he engaged with Mard on i us, was suddenly attacked by a number of Lydians who disturbed the sacrifice, and were at last repelled with staves and stones, the only weapons with which the Lacedæmonians were provided at that moment. In commemoration of this, therefore, the whipping of boys was instituted at Sparta, and after that the Lydian proce ion.