In the daylight hours of the 19th of October, on 6 Pyanepsion, we will celebrate and host a ritual for the Proerosia which, in Attica, honoured Demeter and Apollon first and foremost as Goddess of the harvest and oracular deity who insured bountiful harvest. It seems that in Myrrhinus, the primary recipient of worship during the Proerosia was Zeus. Will you join us on the 19th of October, at 10 AM EDT?
The Proerosia (Προηροσία) was a festival for Demeter’s blessings in preparation
for the ploughing and sowing at the beginning of the agricultural season. In
ancient times it was held at Eleusis. The name serves to convey the essence of
the rites: 'sacrifice before ploughing'.
The myth goes that the whole of
Hellas was suffering from a terrible famine or plague, and the oracle of Delphi
was visited to ask how to stop this terrible affair. The Delphic Oracle said
that Apollo ordered a tithe to Demeter of the first harvest on behalf of all
Hellenes. Except for disruptions during the Peloponnesian War, offerings arrived
annually at Eleusis from all over Hellas. While Athens wasn't a big contributor
to the rites--perhaps because they already made
their
own offerings of grain and first fruits to Demeter--most other city-states
contributed generously, and the Athenians were welcome during the rites. For His
help,
Pythian
Apollon also received an offering during the Proerosia.
There is some
confusion over the dating of the festival. Many modern sources date the festival
on the fifth of Pyanpesion, but new research shows that, because of the
placement of the
Pyanepsia festival,
in honour of Apollon and Theseus, the Proerosia could only have been celebrated
in the daylight hours of the sixth.
The festival can be celebrated with
first fruit-offerings, any offering related to grains (like bread, cakes, or
pancakes), or a
kykeon
libation. The kykeon was made of barley, water, herbs, and ground goat cheese.
Sometimes honey was added. Herbs that are described as part of the kykeon are
mint, pennyroyal and thyme, although it seems any herb that was found to flavor
the drink, was acceptable.
You can join our community for the event
here, and find the ritual
here.
