Definition: Lycaea was an ancient Greek festival in honor of Lycaean Zeus ( Lykaion Zeus) celebrated by the Arcadians. Lycaon was the legendary founder of the Arcadian town of Lycosoura, and there he established the festival and games. The Lycaea included a sacrifice of cakes, although originally it is said that the sacrifice was a human child, an instance of cannibalism for which mythology says Lycaon and his sons, who made the human offering to Zeus, were turned into wolves. Pausanias viii.2.1 says the Lycaea is older than the Panathenaia established by Theseus.
The Lycaea may have been imported by Evander and Carmenta to Rome as the Lupercalia.
Source: William Smith A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. 1875.
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The Altar of Lycaeon Zeus may have been in use from 3000 B.C., before the Greeks worshipped Zeus.
