DOI article:
Richardson, Rufus Byam: A sacrificial calendar from the Epakria
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8681#0396
384
A SACRIFICIAL CALENDAR FROM THE EPAKRIA.
is now 9vei "Hpq> ev. What is still more disappointing is that the
name which follows is an entirely unknown one, . paaiXeia, with
one letter lacking at the beginning (perhaps <&paaikeia).
Our stele does indeed contain allusions to some sacrifices that
were actually performed in the Tetrapolis. TpucopwOol, in line
54, must be taken as a locative, since the datives of the second
declension throughout the inscription end in a.23 But where there
was a great central point for sacrifices for the neighbors, there
might well be set up a general record of sacrifices to be made,
including other places than this. It may be that duplicates of
this stele were set up at other places near by. "Would that we
had found the heading!
It is true that our stele does not even name Hecale, but we
have only a part of the original bulk of the inscription, and it
must, I think, be conceded that Milchhofer's identification has
gained greatly by our discovery of three more reliefs24 in addi-
tion to the two which he had already found at the same place.
Besides, this place, in spite of the objections ot Loeper (1. c.), is
the natural last halting-place on the direct road from Athens to
Marathon, the natural scene of Theseus' taking his last refresh-
ment from the nymph Hecale before descending into the plain to
meet the Marathonian bull.25
If this identification be accepted, we get a very natural expla-
nation of the Heroine who is so often referred to in the inscrip-
tion. She might well be Hecale. The Hero without an epithet
might then be Theseus. If, however, we seek our hero in the
Marathonian plain, we are embarrassed by the multitude of can-
didates. The eponymous hero Marathon, Heracles, Echetlaeus,
or even others of the Marathonomachoi, might claim the honor.20
23 For oi used as a dative ending along with ui, see Cauer, Delectus, No. 138,
line 10 : ^7ri Kijecuwi iv rot lepot. This is, to be sure, not Attic, but Eubcean. But see
Meisteruans, Gram. Att. Inschr., \ 21, 1L In regard to the place, it is striking
that at Trikorynthos, the especial place of refuge for the Heracleidae (Diod. Sic,
iv. 57), Hera, the great enemy of Heracles, should be worshipped. The reconcilia-
tion must have been complete.
24 One of the reliefs has a group that might be considered to be Hecale welcoming
Theseus. From the joined hands of the two larger figures seems to proceed down-
ward something like a club, while a smaller figure of an adorante stands by. We
noticed the club before we thought of this application of the relief.
"Plut., Thes. xiv. 26 Paus., i, 32, 4, 5.
A SACRIFICIAL CALENDAR FROM THE EPAKRIA.
is now 9vei "Hpq> ev. What is still more disappointing is that the
name which follows is an entirely unknown one, . paaiXeia, with
one letter lacking at the beginning (perhaps <&paaikeia).
Our stele does indeed contain allusions to some sacrifices that
were actually performed in the Tetrapolis. TpucopwOol, in line
54, must be taken as a locative, since the datives of the second
declension throughout the inscription end in a.23 But where there
was a great central point for sacrifices for the neighbors, there
might well be set up a general record of sacrifices to be made,
including other places than this. It may be that duplicates of
this stele were set up at other places near by. "Would that we
had found the heading!
It is true that our stele does not even name Hecale, but we
have only a part of the original bulk of the inscription, and it
must, I think, be conceded that Milchhofer's identification has
gained greatly by our discovery of three more reliefs24 in addi-
tion to the two which he had already found at the same place.
Besides, this place, in spite of the objections ot Loeper (1. c.), is
the natural last halting-place on the direct road from Athens to
Marathon, the natural scene of Theseus' taking his last refresh-
ment from the nymph Hecale before descending into the plain to
meet the Marathonian bull.25
If this identification be accepted, we get a very natural expla-
nation of the Heroine who is so often referred to in the inscrip-
tion. She might well be Hecale. The Hero without an epithet
might then be Theseus. If, however, we seek our hero in the
Marathonian plain, we are embarrassed by the multitude of can-
didates. The eponymous hero Marathon, Heracles, Echetlaeus,
or even others of the Marathonomachoi, might claim the honor.20
23 For oi used as a dative ending along with ui, see Cauer, Delectus, No. 138,
line 10 : ^7ri Kijecuwi iv rot lepot. This is, to be sure, not Attic, but Eubcean. But see
Meisteruans, Gram. Att. Inschr., \ 21, 1L In regard to the place, it is striking
that at Trikorynthos, the especial place of refuge for the Heracleidae (Diod. Sic,
iv. 57), Hera, the great enemy of Heracles, should be worshipped. The reconcilia-
tion must have been complete.
24 One of the reliefs has a group that might be considered to be Hecale welcoming
Theseus. From the joined hands of the two larger figures seems to proceed down-
ward something like a club, while a smaller figure of an adorante stands by. We
noticed the club before we thought of this application of the relief.
"Plut., Thes. xiv. 26 Paus., i, 32, 4, 5.