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MUNY´CHIA

MUNY´CHIA (μουνύχια), a festival celebrated in April in honour of Artemis Munychia, as the goddess of the full moon shining alone by night (μουνυχία for μονονυχία). Plutarch (de Glor. Ath. p. 349 F) says that it was instituted to commemorate the victory over the Persians L at Salamis, and that it was held every year on the sixteenth of Munychion, near the port which was named after the goddess. (Cf. πότνια Μουνυχίη λιμενοσκόπε, Callim. Dian. 259.) It was believed that the goddess had helped the Greeks with her light on the night before the battle. (Compare Suidas and Harpocrat. s. v. Μουνυχιών.) The sacrifices which were offered to the goddess on this day consisted of cakes called ἀμφιφῶντες, because these cakes were adorned all round with burning candles. (Athen. 14. 645; Suidas, s. v. Ἀνάστατοι: Hesych. and Etym. M. s. v. Ἀμφιφῶν.) Lysander added insult to injury by ordering the long walls to be demolished on the day of the Munychia. (Plut. Lys. 15; Preller, Gr. Myth. i. p. 236.)

[L.S] [G.E.M]

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    • Plutarch, Lysander, 15
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