Salvete
1) Noumenia kata Selene
2) Agathos Daimon
3) Athena
4) Aphrodite, Eros, Herakles & Hermes
5) Ares
6) Artemis- Delphinia festival
7) Apollon
8 ) Poseidon & Theseus
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
14)
15)
16) Mounikhia festival; in honor of Artemis
17)
18 )
19) Olympia festival
20) Sacrifice for Leukaspis at Erchia
21) Sacrifice for Tritopatores at Erchia
22)
23)
24)
25)
26)
27)
28 )
29)
30) Triakas, Hene kai Nea
Mounikhion (Mounikhion 16)
Background
The name of this festival derives from a steep hill, Mounikhia, which is near the Athenian port of Peiraeus. Here Artemis on the Hill, always at home on mountain slopes, held sway.
Two types of offerings are indicated, which seem to point to two different sides of Artemis’ character. The sacrifice of she-goat (in recompense for the slaying of a she-bear in Artemis’ shrine) refers to her as Potnia Theron, Mistress of Animals. But the second type of offering and the timing of the festival at the Dikhomenia connect her to the moon; cakes called amphiphontes (“shinning all around”) were brought to her.
“They had lighted candles stuck in a circle,” writes Parke, “and ancient commentators were probably right in seeing in this some reference to the circle of the moon.”
In later times, the festival became focused on the port itself and involved a boat race by the ephebes (young men in military training).
Modern Observances
The Mounikhia is an opportunity to honor the lunar aspect of Artemis. A candlelight procession under the full moon lends itself to this intimate devotional holiday. The ritual can be found on pages 284-285.
valete
Quintus