TIMING:

9-13 Elaphebolion

THEME:

Dionysos, Theater, Asclepius, Health

HISTORY / LORE:

On the 9th of Elaphebolion, the actors that are to perform in the next few days and the plays to be presented are introduced. There is, also, a feast and sacrifices to honor Asclepius, god of health.

The procession on the 10th of Elaphebolion is called "Bringing in from the sacrificial hearth". Included in the procession are: a statue of Dionysos; phallic symbols from each participating town; sacrificial bulls; resident aliens wearing purple robes and carrying trays of offerings (called skaphephoroi or tray bearers); citizens carrying leather bottles of wine (called askophoroi or bottle carriers); a high born maiden carrying a basket of first fruit offerings, especially grapes; and long thin rods of bread called obeliai or little spits. The procession stops from time to time for dances to honor the deities.

Each day for the next four days, there are presented three tragedies, one satyr play and one comedy. (A satyr play is one where all the actors are costumed in part or in full as animals.) While watching the plays, everyone eats nuts and berries and drinks wine. Each night after the plays, the men drink and dance late into the night.

DECORATING IDEAS:

lots of vines, bunches of grapes and theater sets.

GARMENTS:

purple robes for participants that are not Hellenic and costumes for those that are (the chosen costume could be related to personal patron deities).

RITUAL CUP:

lots of wine mixed with water (wine coolers?)

RITUAL FOODS:

seeds, nuts and berries such as trail mix; theater food such as all beef hot dogs and popcorn

ACTIVITIES:

watch or perform in theater plays and attend drinking parties

SOURCES:

• Burkert, Walter (1985) "Greek Religion". Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press
• Cooper, J.C. (1990) "The Dictionary of Festivals". Hammersmith, London: HapersCollinsPublishing
• Parke, H.W. (1977) "Festivals of the Athenians". Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press