Dēlia

, a festival celebrated every fifth year in the island of Delos, in honour of Apollo. It was first instituted by These us, who, at his return from Crete, placed a statue there, which he had received from Ariadne. At the celebration, they crowned the statue of the godde with garlands, appointed a choir of music, and exhibited horse-races. They afterwards led a dance, in which they imitated, by their motions, the various windings of the Cretan labyrinth, from which These us had extricated himself by Ariadne’s a istance.――There was also another festival of the same name, yearly celebrated by the A then i ans in Delos. It was also instituted by These us, who, when he was going to Crete, made a vow, that if he returned victorious, he would yearly visit in a solemn manner the temple of Delos. The persons employed in this annual proce ion were called Deliastæ and The or i . The ship, the same which carried These us, and had been carefully preserved by the A then i ans, was called The or i a and Delias . When the ship was ready for the voyage, the priest of Apollo solemnly adorned the stern with garlands, and a universal lustration was made all over the city. The The or i were crowned with laurel, and before them proceeded men armed with axes, in commemoration of These us, who had cleared the way from Trœzene to Athens, and delivered the country from robbers. When the ship arrived at Delos, they offered solemn sacrifices to the god of the island, and celebrated a festival in his honour. After this they retired to their ship, and sailed back to Athens, where all the people of the city ran in crowds to meet them. Every appearance of festivity prevailed at their approach, and the citizens opened their doors, and prostrated themselves before the Deliastæ, as they walked in proce ion. During this festival, it was not lawful to put to death any malefactor, and on that account the life of So crates was prolonged for 30 days. Xenophon , Memorabilia & Symposium .— ♦ Plato , Phædo .— Seneca , ltr. 70 . ♦ ‘Plutarch’ replaced with ‘Plato’