ARRHEPHO´RIA
ARRHEPHO´RIA (
τὰ
ἀρρηφόρια,
ἡ ἀρρηφορία,
v. L. and S.), a festival which, according to the
various ways in which it is written (for we
[p. 1.194]find
ἐρσηφόρια or
ἐρρηφόρια), is attributed to different deities. The first
form is derived from
ἄρρητα, and thus
would indicate a festival at which mysterious things were carried. The other
name would point to Erse or Herse, a daughter of Cecrops, whose worship was
intimately connected with that of Athena. And there is, indeed, sufficient
ground for believing that the festival was solemnised, in a higher sense, in
honour of Athena. (
Etym. M. s. v.
Ἀρρηφόροι.) It was held at Athens, in the month of
Skirophorion. Four girls, of between seven and eleven years (
ἀρρηφόροι, ἐρσηφόροι, ἐρρηφόροι:
Aristoph. Lys. 642), were selected every
year by the king archon from the most distinguished families, two of whom
superintended the weaving of the sacred peplos of Athena, which was begun on
the last day of Pyanepsion (Suid. s. v.
Χαλκεῖα); the two others had to carry the mysterious and sacred
vessels of the goddess to the Acropolis. These latter remained there a whole
year, either in the Parthenon or some adjoining building (Harpocrat. s. v.
Δειπνοφόρος:
Paus. 1.27.4); and when the festival commenced, the priestess of
the goddess placed vessels upon their heads, the contents of which were
neither known to them nor to the priestess. With these they descended to a
natural grotto within the district of Aphrodite in the gardens. Here they
deposited the sacred vessels, and carried back something else, which was
covered and likewise unknown to them. After this the girls were dismissed,
and others were chosen to supply their place in the acropolis. The girls
wore white robes adorned with gold, which were left for the goddess; and a
peculiar kind of cakes was baked for them. To cover the expenses of the
festival, a peculiar liturgy was established, called
ὰρρηφορία. All other details concerning this festival are
unknown. (Comp. C. F. Hermann,
Gottesd. Alterth. §
61, n. 9; A. Mommsen,
Heortologie, p. 443 ff.)
[
L.S]
