ANAGO´GIA
ANAGO´GIA (
ἀναγώγια),
a festival celebrated at Eryx, in Sicily, in honour of Aphrodite. The
inhabitants of the place believed that, at a certain period of the year, the
goddess went over into Africa, and that all the pigeons of the town and its
neighbourhood likewise departed to accompany her. (Aelian,
Ael. NA 4.2,
V. H. 1.14;
Athen. 9.394.) Nine days
afterwards, at the so-called
καταγώγια
(return), one pigeon having returned and entered the temple, the rest
followed. This was the signal for general rejoicing and feasting. The whole
district was said at this time to smell of butter, which the inhabitants
believed to be a sign that Aphrodite had returned. (
Athen. 9.395; comp. K. F.
Hermann,
Gottesd. Alterth. § 68, n. 29.)
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L.S]
