DIABATE´RIA
DIABATE´RIA (
διαβατήρια), a sacrifice offered to Zeus and Athena by the Spartan
kings on passing the frontier of Laconia in command of an army (
Xen. Rep. Lac. 13,
§ 2 ff.). If the victims were unfavourable, they disbanded the army
and returned home (
Thuc. 5.54,
55,
116; cf.
Xen. Hell. 3.4, § 3; 4.7.2; 5.3.14,
4, § § 37, 47). We also find
διαβατήρια offered by a Roman general in passing a swollen
river (
Plut. Luc. 24).
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