Diabateria
(
διαβατήρια). A sacrifice offered to Zeus and
Athené by the Spartan kings on passing the frontier of Laconia in command of an
army (
Rep. Lac. 13.2 foll.). If the victims were unfavourable they disbanded
the army and returned home (
Thuc. v. 54, 55Thuc. 116). We also find
διαβατήρια offered by a
Roman general in passing a swollen river (
Lucull. 24).