Thesmophoria
On the ancient Greek dates of 11-13 Puanepsion, the Greek women celebrated the seeding time (Sporetos) with a fertility festival known as the Thesmophoria which was commemorated and mocked by Aristophanes in his Thesmophoriazusae.
The first day was known as Anodos, the ascent. Women camp out on the Thesmophorion, the hillside sanctuary of Demeter Thesmophoros for three days and two nights.
The second day is the Nesteia (Fast) when women fast and mock each other. They may also whip each other with bark scourges
The third day is called Kalligeneia (Fair Offspring). Commemorating Demeter's torchlight search for her daughter Persephone, there is a night-time torch light ceremony. The Antletriai (Bailers), ritually purified, descend into the caverns to remove the decayed matter thrown down earlier: pigs, pine cones, and dough formed in the shape of men's genitals. They clap to scare the snakes away and bring back the material to place on the altars for later use as fertilizer in the sowing of seed. Also see:
Demeter Feature
Entry on Demeter
Demeter Links Amazons
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