inovПnaoov, i. e. because by her Affiftance Bellerophon caught Pegafus, the winged Horfe, and brought him under Command, which fome take to be the first Reafon of the Celebration of this Festival, Others are of Opinion, that this Name was given to the Goddess from one Hellotis, a Corinthian Woman; the Story runs thus: The Dorians, being affifted by the Pofterity of Hercules, made an Invafion upon Peloponnefus, where they took and burned Corinth; most of the Women took care to fecure themselves by an early Flight, only fome few, amongst whom were Hellotis, and Eurytione, betook themfelves to Minerva's Temple, hoping that the Sanctity of the Place would be a fufficient Protection for them. No fooner had this reach'd the Dorians Ears, but they fet Fire to the Temple, and all the reft making a Shift to escape, Hellotis and Eurytione perifh'd in the Flames. Upon this enfu'd a dreadful Plague, which prov'd very fatal to the Dorians; and the Remedy preferib'd by the Goddess, was to appease the Ghofts of the two deceas'd Sifters; whereupon they inftituted this Festival in Memory of them, and erected a Temple to Minerva, firnam'd, from one of them, Hellotis.

Or rather (according to Meurfius's Conjecture) Evvaniais, was a Festival in Honour of Enyalius (I), whom fome will have to be the fame with Mars: Others, only one of his Ministers.

EITH PIA,

Oblations or Prayers to any of the Gods, for profperous Egrefs. These were offer'd by Generals before they went out to the Wars, by Men who were going from Home, and fuch as were a bout to make their Exit out of the World by Death (a).

ΕΠΑΧΘΗΣ,

To Ceres nam'd Axle (b), from axlos, i. e. Grief; in Memory of her Sorrow, when fhe had loft her Daughter Proferpina.

ΕΠΙΔΗΜΙΑ,

Private Festivals, and Times of rejoicing, when a Friend, or Rela tion had returned from a Journey (c).

ΕΠΙΔΗΜΙΑ ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ Ο Σ,

A Delphian Festival, in Memory of a Journey of Apollo (4).

(*) Hefychius. (†) Idem. (b) Plutarch. de Ifide & Ofiride. pins in Epiftola ad Zachariam.

(1) Idem.

(a) Suidas. Etymologici Auctor. (c) Himerius in Propempt. Flavian. (d) Proco

Another of Ceres's Feftivals, obferv'd by the Laconians (c).

ΕΠΙΝΙΚΙΑ, ΕΠΙΝΙΚΙΟΣ ΕΟΡΤΗ,

A Day of Rejoicing after Victory. Emina Jew, fignifies to facri fice for a victory obtain'd.

ΕΠΙΣΚΑ ΦΙΑ,

A Rhodian Feftival (d).

ΕΠΙΣΚΗΝΑ

A Spartan Festival (e).

ΕΠΙΣ ΚΙΡΑ, ΕΠΙΣ ΚΙΡΩΣΙΣ,

At Scira in Attica, in Honour of Ceres and Proferpina (f).

ΕΡΩΤΙΔΙΑ,

By the Thespians, in Honour of Egas, i. e. Cupid, the God of Love (g),

ΕΡΩΤΙ Α,

This Festival feems to be the fame with the former, for it was ob ferv'd by the Thespians in Honour of Cupid (b); being celebrated every fifth Year with Sports and Games, wherein Muficians, and others contended. If any Quarrels had happen'd amongst the People, it was ufual at this Time to offer Sacrifices, and Prayers to the God, that he would put an End to them.

ΕΡΓΑΤΙΑ,

A Laconian Festival, in Honour of Hercules (i); being (I fuppofe) inftituted in Mentory of the Labours, for Labour is by the Greeks call'd Εργόν.

EP KHNI A,

I would rather call it Exuvia, for this Feftival belong'd to Ce

(a) Hefychius. (b) Idem. (c) Idem. (d) Idem. (e) Idem. lib. IX. Stephanus V. Exipos. (g) Euftathius fub finem Iliad. w. rotic. Paufanias Baoticis, (i) Hefychius.

(f) Strabo Geogr. (b) Plutarchus E

res

res (a), whom we find firnam'd Hercynna in Lycophron (b); which Title was given her from Hercynna, the Daughter of Trophonius, and Play-fellow of Proferpina (c).

EP MAIA,

A Festival obferv'd in Honour of Eguns, i. e. Mercury, by the Pheneata in Arcadia (d), and the Cyllenians in Elis (e).

Another we find obferv'd by the Tanagraans in Baotia (f), where Mercury was call'd Keropop, i. e. the Ram-bearer, and reprefented with a Ram upon his Shoulder, because he is faid in a Time of Plague to have walk'd about the City in that Pofture, and cur'd the Sick; in Memory of which Action, it was customary for one of the most beautiful Youths in the City to walk round the City-Walls with a Lamb, or Ram upon his Shoulders.

A Festival of the fame Name was also obferv'd in Crete, where it was ufual for the Servants to fit down to the Table, whilst their Mafters ftood by, and waited (g); which Custom was also practis'd at the

Roman Saturnalia.

Another of Mercury's Festivals was obferv'd by Boys in the Schools of Exercife at Athens (h); at which no adult Perfons were allow'd to be prefent, befide the Gymnafiarch; who, if convicted of having admited any, underwent the fame Punishment with those that corrupted free-born Youth. The Occafion of this Law feems to have been the foul and not to be nam'd Luft and Wantonnefs, which were practised in former Times at this Solemnity.

ΕΣΤΙΑΙΑ,

Solemn Sacrifices to Vefta (i), call'd in Greek Esia, of which it was unlawful to carry away, or communicate any Part to any beside the Worshippers; whence Esia Juer, i. e. to facrifice to Vefta, is proverbially apply'd to fuch as do any thing in private without Spectators (k); or rather to covetous Mifers, that will not part with any thing they are once poffefs'd of (1).

To the Furies (m), who were by the Athenians call'd Equvai Itai, i. e. Venerable Goddeffes; by the Sicyonians, and others Euvides, i. e. Favourable, or Propitious; out of an Opinion that their true Names were unlucky Omens. This Festival was obferv'd once every Year with Sacrifices, wherein pregnant Ewes, Cakes made by the most eminent of the young Men, and a Libation of Honey and Wine were of fer'd to the Goddeffes, the Worfhippers being deck'd with Flowers. At Athens none had Admiffion to thefe Solemnities but Free-born Denizens; and of them, thofe only that were of known Virtue and Integrity, for fuch alone could be acceptable to thefe Deities, whofe pecu liar Office it was to revenge and punish all Sorts of Wickedness.

(a) Idem. (b) Caffandra, v. 153. (c) Paufanias Baoticis. (d) Idem Arcadicis. (e) Idem Eliacis. (f) Idem Baoticis. (g) Athenaus DEVOTO. XIV. chines in Timarchum.(i) Hefychius. (k) Diogenianus. (1) Tarrhaus. Paufanias Buaticis.

(h) Æf(m) Phil.

ET PT

To Ceres (a).

ΕΥΡΥΘΙΩΝΙΟΝ,

ΕΥΡΥΚΛΕΙΑ,

A Spartan Festival, mentioned in an old Inscription.

ΕΥΡΥΝΟ ΜΕΙΑ,

An Anniversary Solemnity obferv'd by the Phigaleans in Arcadia (b). who offer'd Sacrifices, both in publick and private, to Eurynome, who had in this Place a Temple, which was never open'd but upon this Day. This Eurynome was (as fome are of opinion) the fame with Diana or (according to others) one of Oceanus's Daughters, mention'd in Homer, where she is said to have affifted in entertaining Vulcan.

ΕΦΙΠΠΟΣ,

Horse-races in Laconia (c).

H.

HAAKATAIA,

A Laconian Festival, in honour of Helacatus (d), who was a Boy belov'd by Hercules.

H PAIA,

Be

A Festival at Argos, in honour of Juno, who was the Protectress of that City, and call'd in Greek Hen. The fame was kept by the Colonies from Arges, which inhabited the Iflands Egina and Samos. There were two Proceffions to the Goddefs's Temple without the City: One by the Men in Armour: Another, in which Juno's Priestess, who was always a Matron of the first Quality, was drawn in a Chariot by white Oxen: From her Priesthood the Argians accounted their Years, as the Athenians did by the Government of their Archons. ing arriv'd at the Temple, they offer'd an Hecatomb of Oxen, whence this Festival is nam'd Eratóμcola; that Sacrifice is alfo fometimes call'd Aseva which Name may, perhaps, be deriv'd from xexos, i. e. a Bed, because it was Juno's Care to prefide over Marriages, Births, There were also certain Games, wherein the Victory confifted in pulling down a Shield, that was strongly fix'd upon the Theatre: The Reward was a Crown of Myrtle, and a brazen Shield; whence the Game was fometimes call'd Xáλne awr, i. c. the Brazen Conten tion. See Εκατόμβοια.

Another Festival of this Name we find celebrated every fifth Year in Elis, where fixteen Matrons were appointed to weave a Garment for the Goddefs. There were Games alfo, which are faid to have been first inftituted by Hippodamia, in honour of Juno, by whose Affistance

(a) Hefych us, (b) Paufanias Arcadicis. (c) Hesychius, & Phavorinus, (d) Hefychius.

The

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Ch. 20 fhe was marry'd to Pelops. The Presidents were fixteen Matrons, every one of which was attended by a Maid: The Contenders were Virgins, who being diftinguish'd into feveral Claffes, according to their Ages, ran Races in their Order, beginning from the youngest. The Habit of all was the fame; their Hair was difhevell'd, their right Shoulders bare to their Breafts, and their Coats reach'd no lower than their Knees. They had a fecond Race in the Olympic Stadium, which was at that Time fhorten'd about a fixth Part. Such as obtain❜d a Victory, were rewarded with Crowns of Olive, a Share of the Ox that was offer'd in Sacrifice, and were permitted to dedicate their own Pictures to the Goddess.

This Name was alfo given to a folemn Day of Mourning at Corinth for Medea's Children, who were buried in the Temple of Juno Acraa in that Place, and as fome fay, flain by the Corinthians; who, to remove the Scandal of fo barbarous a Murder from themselves, are faid to have given Euripides a large Sum to invent the Fable, wherein it is attributed to Medea, which before that Time no Man ever dream'd of (a).

Another Festival of this Name was celebrated by the Pellenaans with Games, wherein the Victor was rewarded with a rich Garment, call'd from the Place's Name Πελληνική χλαίνα

HPAKAEIA,

An Athenian Festival, celebrated every fifth Year in Honour of Her cules (b).

The Thisbians also, and Thebans in Bœotia, observ'd a folemn Festival in Honour of Hercules, firnam'd Miwy, because ra uña, i. e. Ap ples were offer'd to him (c): The Original of which Custom was thus: It being ufual in former Times to offer a Sheep at this Solemnity, it happen'd once that the River Afopus had fo far overflow'd its Banks, that it could not be forded, whereby the Coming of the Victim was hindred the Word unλov, is ambiguous in Greek, fignifying sometimes a Sheep, fometimes an Apple; which fome of the Boys being aware of, for want of other Employment, perform'd the holy Rites in Sport, offering, inftead of the Ram, an Apple, which they fupported with four Sticks, in Imitation of Feet, placing two more upon the Top of it, to branch out like Horns: Hercules was mightily taken with the Jeft, and the Custom was continu'd from that Time to my Author's Age, who flourish'd under Commodus the Roman Emperor.

And Sicyon Hercules was honour'd with a Festival, which lafted two Days, the former of which was call'd Ovoudras, the latter Heλe.

At Lindus there was a Solemnity in Honour of Hercules, at which nothing was heard but Execrations, and ill-boding Words, infomuch that if any Perfon happen'd to let fall a lucky Speech, he was thought to have profan'd the holy Rites; the Original of which Custom is accounted for by Lactantius.

There was another Festival of Hercules at Coos, wherein the Priest officiated with a Mitre on his Head, and in Woman's Apparel.

(a) Lycophron. Scholiaft, (b) Tollux, lib. VIII. cap. IX. (c) Idem. lib. I. cap. I. HP O