Daphnephoria
（
δαφνηφορία). A festival celebrated every ninth year at
Thebes in honour of Apollo, surnamed Ismenius or Galaxius. Its name was derived from the
laurel branches (
δάφναι) which were carried by those who took
part in its celebration. A full account of the festival is given by Proclus
(
Chrestomath. p. 11). At one time all the Aeolians of Arné and the
adjacent districts, at the command of an oracle, laid siege to Thebes, which was at the same
time attacked by the Pelasgians, and ravaged the neighbouring country. But when the day came
on which both parties had to celebrate a festival of Apollo, a truce was concluded, and on the
day of the festival they went with laurel-boughs to the temple of the god. But Polematas, the
general of the Boeotians, had a vision in which he saw a young man who presented to him a
complete suit of armour, and who made him vow to institute a festival, to be celebrated every
ninth year, in honour of Apollo, at which the Thebans, with laurel-boughs in their hands, were
to go to his temple. When, on the third day after this vision, both parties
again were engaged in close combat, Polematas gained the victory. He now fulfilled his
promise, and himself walked to the temple of Apollo in the manner prescribed by the being he
had seen in his vision; and ever since that time, continues Proclus, this custom has been
strictly observed.
