Diasia
(
τὰ Διάσια). A great festival celebrated at Athens,
without the walls of the city, in honour of Zeus, surnamed
Μειλίχιος. The whole people took part in it, and the wealthier citizens offered
victims (
ἱερεῖα), while the poorer classes burned such
incense as their country furnished (
θύματα ἐπιχώρια). The
Diasia took place in the latter half of the month of Anthesterion, with feasting, and was,
like most other festivals, accompanied by a fair. The etymology of
Διάσια given by most of the ancient grammarians (from
Διός and
ἄση) is false; the name is a mere
derivative from
Διός, as
Ἀπολλώνια from
Ἀπόλλων.