HERMAEA
HERMAEA (
Ἕρμαια), festivals of
Hermes, celebrated in various parts of Greece. As Hermes was the tutelary
deity of the gymnasia and palaestrae, the boys at Athens celebrated the
Hermaea in the gymnasia. They were on this occasion dressed in their best,
offered sacrifices to the god, and amused themselves with various games and
sports, which were probably of a more free and unrestrained character than
usual. Hence the gymnasiarch was prohibited by a law of Solon (Aeschin.
c. Timarch. § 12)
[p. 1.956]from
admitting any adults on the occasion. This law, however, was afterwards
neglected, and in the time of Plato (
Lysis. p.
206 D) we find the boys celebrating the Hermaea in a palaestra, and in the
presence of persons of all ages. (Becker-Göll,
Charikles, 2.62, cf. 49;
GYMNASIUM pp. 927
b,
928
a.)
Hermaea were also celebrated in Crete, where, on this occasion, the same
custom prevailed which was observed at Rome during the Saturnalia; for the
day was a season of freedom and enjoyment for the slaves, and their masters
waited upon them at their repasts. (
Athen.
14.639 b; cf. vi. p. 263 f.)
The town of Pheneos, in Arcadia, of which Hermes was the principal divinity,
likewise celebrated Hermaea with games and contests. (
Paus. 8.14.7; cf.
Journ. Hellen. Soc. 7.101.) A
festival of the same kind was celebrated at Pellene. (Schol.
ad
Pind. O. 7.156, and
Nem. 10.82.) Tanagra, in Boeotia, likewise celebrated festivals
of Hermes
Κριοφόρος and
Πρόμαχος (
Paus.
9.22.2; cf.
Journ. Hellen. Soc. 6.95, 8.11); as did
some other places, the particulars of which are not known. (See Index to
Hermann's
Gottesd. Alterth. s. v.
Ἕρμαια.)
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