DIOSCU´RIA
DIOSCU´RIA (
διοσκούρια
or
διοσκούρεια,
C. I. G. 1444),
festivals celebrated in various parts of Greece in honour of the Dioscuri,
the heroes Castor and Polydeuces (Pollux). The Spartan Dioscuria, mentioned
by Pausanias (
4.27.1; compare with 3.16.3) and
Spanheim (
ad Callim.
Hymn. in
Pall. 24), were celebrated with sacrifices, rejoicings, and
drinking. At Cyrene the Dioscuri were likewise honoured with a great
festival. (Schol.
ad
Pind. P. 5.629.) The Athenian festival of
the Dioscuri has been described under
ANAKEIA where they were worshipped under the name of
Ἄνακτες. Their worship was very generally
adopted in Greece, especially in the Doric and Achaean states (
Paus. 10.33,
3;
38,
3), as we
conclude from the great number of temples dedicated to them; but scarcely
anything is known respecting the manner in which their festivals were
celebrated.
The festival of the Dioscuri was celebrated at Rome with great splendour on
the Ides of Quinctilis, the 15th of July, the day on which they were
believed to have assisted the Romans against the Latins in the battle of the
Lake Regillus. On this occasion the Equites, who regarded the Dioscuri as
their patrons, went in a magnificent procession, crowned with olive chaplets
and wearing their state dress, the trabea, from the temple of Mars outside
the city, through the main streets, across the forum, and by the ancient
temple of the Dioscuri (
Dionys. A. R.
6.13;
Liv. 9.46). [
EQUITES]
[
L.S]