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who himself acted as distributor of the prizes, AtJilothetes.
At the Greater Panathenaia each colony in which lands
had been assigned to Athenian KlerucM contributed a cow
and two sheep to the sacrifice. The peplos of Athene was
a woven mantle renewed every five years. On the ground,
which is described as dark violet and also as saffron-
coloured, was embroidered the battle of the Gods and the
Giants, in which Zeus and Athene were represented as
taking a prominent part. In the earlier period of the
Athenian republic, it was not lawful to insert in the
peplos the likeness of mortals, but in aftertimes, when
religious feeling had decayed, the portraits of the kings
Antigonos and Demetrios were introduced to flatter those
protectors of Athens.

On the birthday of the goddess the procession which
conveyed the peplos to her temple assembled in the outer
Kerameikos, and passed through the lower city round the
Akropolis, which it ascended through the Propylaea.
During its passage through the Kerameikos the peplos was
displayed on the mast of a ship, which was propelled on
rollers. In the procession of Rosalia at Palermo, a ship is
still employed for the same purpose. In this solemn
ceremony on the birthday of their goddess, the whole body
of Athenian citizens were represented. Among those
who are particularly mentioned as taking part in the
procession were the envoys from the Athenian colonies in
charge of the victims for the sacrifice ; the noble Athenian
maidens, Kanephori, who bore baskets, hanea, with sacred
offerings for the sacrifice; the Metoiks, Skaphephori,
whose function it was to carry certain trays, shaphce,
containing cakes and other offerings ; the elderly Athenian
citizens who bore olive branches, and were hence called
Tliallophori. Chariots and horses were among the most
striking features in the procession. On this occasion
appeared certain quadrigae, which were only used in