Societas Via Romana - Discussion Archives

Salvete

Like with the following month, its unclear to me whether the month is named after the festival of Thargalia or vice versa. However, the Thargalia is a major festival in honor of the God Apollon. This festival is celebrated over two day period.

1) Noumenia kata Selene
2) Agathos Daimon
3) Athena
4) Aphrodite, Eros, Herakles & Hermes- Sacrifice for Leto, Pythian Apollon, Zeus, Hermes & Dioskouroi.
5) Ares
6) Artemis- Thargalia
7) Apollon- Thargalia
8 ) Poseidon & Theseus
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10)
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12)
13)
14)
15)
16) Sacrifice for Zeus Epakrios
17)
18 )
19) Sacrifice for Menedeios, Bendideia Festival
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21)
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23)
24)
25) Kallunteria & Plunteria festival
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29) Triakas, Hene kai Nea
valete

Quintus

Salvete

Background

The Thargalia was traditionally celebrated over a two day period. The first day was about purification and driving out the human scapegoats (two ugly men) who represented pharmakoi. One represented the men, the other the women of the city. On the 6th day, bad things were driven out. On the 7th day, offerings of thargelos, mixed vegetables were made to Apollon. Also on that day, good things were carried in the city.
There were some important people born on these two days. Alexander was said to have been born on the 6th day of this month, while Plato was said to have been born on the 7th day. Important military victories were also remembered on these days.

Modern Observance

In our modern ritual (described on pages 290-292) , we may chose a person to act as pharmakos or as suggested below, an effigy may be used. In reconstructing the pharmakos ritual, Drew incorporated one of the purification rites used after death; this is not historically based, and may be omitted without damaging the integrity or effectiveness of the ritual. Appropriate offerings include sprouted-grain loaves or one of the festive braided Greek breads.

valete

Quintus

Salvete

Kallunteria

Traditionally, this time was reserved to spring clean the temple of Athena. This was usually done between the 20th and 25th day of the month. It’s a good time to clean the shrines and altars of Athena, one might have.

Plunteria

The Plunteria was a festival of washing. During this day, Athena is preoccupied and it was considered to be a dangerous day.
valete

Quintus