Hellenic month of Elaphebolion

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Hellenic month of Elaphebolion

Postby Quintus Aurelius Orcus on Sun Mar 06, 2005 4:02 pm

Salvete during this month, we have several festivals to celebrate. One in honor of Artemis, another for Asklepios and the City or Greater Dionysia.
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Elaphebolion: 11/12th of March- 08/09th of April


1) Noumenia kata Selene
2) Agathos Daimon
3) Athena
4) Aphrodite, Hermes, Eros & Herakles.
5) Ares
6) Artemis
7) Apollon
8) Poseidon & Theseus- Asklepieia Festival
9)
10) Dionysia ta Astika festival; in honor of Dionysos; The City or the Great Dionysia
11) Dionysia ta Astika festival
12) Dionysia ta Astika festival
13) Dionysia ta Astika festival
14) Dionysia ta Astika festival
15) Dionysia ta Astika festival
16) Dionysia ta Astika festival
17) Dionysia ta Astika festival & Pandia
18)
19)
20)
21)
22)
23)
24)
25)
26)
27)
28)
29) Triakas, Hene kai Nea
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valete
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The festivals

Postby Quintus Aurelius Orcus on Sun Mar 06, 2005 4:05 pm

Salvete

During this month, we have at least 4 festivals and only 1, from which we have good sources on. For the festival of Artemis and Asklepios, a devotion ritual for these deities will suffice. The reason why I'm saying this, is because the sources on these festivals are rare. We don't have enough information to reconstruct that festival.
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The City Dionysia (Elaphebolion 10-17)
Background


The Greater or City Dionysia was only established as a festival in the 6th century BCE. It is the last of the annual cycle of Dionysian festivals that also includes the Lenaia and the Anthesteria.
The God is worshipped here as Dionysos Eleuthereus, a name which refers to the town of Eleutherai and contains the root of the word “Freedom.” One particular myth tells of the statue that was taken from the town to Athens. During the City Dionysia, the same statue was taken to the road to Eleutherai until the end of the festival. When the festival was done, the statue was taken back to Athens. By the classical period, the festival was centered around theater. Men would spend their days in the theater watching tragic trilogies followed by comedies and satyr plays. The celebration also included phallic processions and revels, not unlike those of the rural festivals held earlier in the year. There is also some indication that the myth recounted in one of the Homeric hymns, may also be connected to a ritual, perhaps taking place at this festival, in which the image of the God was carried on a ship-cart.

Modern observance

In many ways this festival parallels the Lenaia, although the focus is on tragic performances. The Dionysian mask, also used at the Anthesteria, or perhaps another image of the God, can be carried in and placed prominently in the ritual space. After a brief ritual of sacrifice, the participants may either read aloud, act out or view plays (live if possible or on video). It is important to remember that, while we think of play-going as a secular activity, to the ancients it was a religious act, although surely not a wholly solemn one. Food, drink and dance may be enjoyed as part of the revels.
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valete
Quintus
Quintus Aurelius Orcus
Rector ColRel
Rogator
Princeps gentis Aureliae
User avatar
Quintus Aurelius Orcus
Senator
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Posts: 937
Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2002 5:05 pm
Location: Ghent, Belgica


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