The Elaphebolia (; Έλαφηβόλια ''Elaphēbolia'') was an

ancient Greek Ancient Greek (, ; ) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek ...

festival held at

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

and

Phocis Phocis (; ; ) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. It stretches from the western mountainsides of Parnassus on the east to the mountain range of Vardousia on the west, upon the Gu ...

during the month of Elaphebolion (March/April dedicated to

Artemis In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, Artemis (; ) is the goddess of the hunting, hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, transitions, nature, vegetation, childbirth, Kourotrophos, care of children, and chastity. In later tim ...

''Elaphebolos'' (

deer A deer (: deer) or true deer is a hoofed ruminant ungulate of the family Cervidae (informally the deer family). Cervidae is divided into subfamilies Cervinae (which includes, among others, muntjac, elk (wapiti), red deer, and fallow deer) ...

slayer). In the town of

Hyampolis Hyampolis (Ὑάμπολις ''Iabolis'') was a city in ancient Phocis, Greece. A native of this city was called a ''Hyampolites''. Some ancient authors record that the city was also called simply ''Hya''. Mythology and situation In the ancient tr ...

in Phocis, it would have been instituted by the inhabitants to commemorate a victory against the Thessalians. Cakes made from flour, honey, and sesame and in the shape of stags were offered to the goddess during the festival. Modern followers of Hellenism observe Elaphebolia as a holiday. It falls on the 6th day of the month of Elaphebolion. In 2024 it will fall on March 17.

References

Sources

*Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities edited by William Smith (1870) {{usurped,
p.450
} Festivals in ancient Greece Festivals in ancient Athens Festivals of Artemis Military history of ancient Thessaly March observances April observances

See also

References

Sources