CHAPTER IV.

THE WOMEN’S FESTIVALS. THESMOPHORIA, ARREPHORIA, SKIROPHORIA, STENIA, HALOA.

Importance of these festivals as containing the germ of ‘Mysteries.’ Detailed examination of the ritual of the Thesmophoria. The Kathodos and Anodos, the Nesteia, the Kalligeneia. Gist of the rites the magical impulsion of fertility by burying _sacra_ in the ground. Magical rites preceded by purification and fasting. Analogy of Arrephoria, Skirophoria and Stenia with Thesmophoria. Meaning of the word _Thesmophoria_, the carrying of magical _sacra_. Magical spells, curses and law. θεσμός and νόμος. The curse and the law. The Dirae of Teos. The Haloa, a festival of the threshing-floor, later taken over by Dionysos. Tabooed foods. Eleusinian Mysteries a primitive harvest-festival. Order of the ritual. The pig of purification. Other rites of purification. The _tokens_ of the mysteries. Ancient confessions rather of the nature of _Confiteor_ than _Credo_. The fast and the partaking of the _kykeon_. The Kernophoria. Ancient mysteries in their earliest form consist of the tasting of first-fruits and the handling of _sacra_ after preliminary purification, pp. 120-162.