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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.

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