THARYÍLIA -
ΘΑΡΓHΛΙΑ and the Birthday of ÁrtæmisHellenicGods.org
Tharyília - (Thargelia; Gr. Θαργήλια, ΘΑΡΓHΛΙΑ. Pronounced: thar-YEE-lee-ah) Tharyília is the festival honoring the yænǽthlia (genethlia; Gr. γενέθλια) or birthday, of Apóllohn (Apollo; Gr. Ἀπόλλων). A festival to honor the birthday of a God is called an Æpivatírion (Epibaterion; Gr. Ἐπιβᾰτήριον), therefore, Tharyília is the Æpivatírion of Apóllohn. Tharyília is observed in the ancient Athenian month of Tharyilióhn (Thargelion; Gr. Θαργηλιών), on the seventh day, for which the God is known as Ævdomayænís (Ebdomagenes; Gr. Ἑβδομᾱγενής), meaning born on the seventh day. Because of this, Tharyília is also called the Ævdomaion (Ebdomaion; Gr. Ἑβδομαῖον), the Seventh-Day-Festival, although this name (Ævdomaion) can also be applied to the seventh day of any ancient Athenian month because each seventh day was dedicated to Apóllohn.Tharyília occurs in springtime. There is disagreement as to which particular day it falls on the modern calendar. In our tradition Tharyília always falls on May 21, the first day of Dídymi (Gemini; Gr. Δίδυμοι), which is the ninth month of the Mystery year, and this entire month is under the dominion of Apóllohn. The Æpivatírion of Ártæmis (Artemis; Gr. Ἄρτεμις), thefestival celebrating her birthday , is celebrated the day before Tharyília because, according to the mythology, she was born one day before her brother. Consequently, Tharyília is often thought as a 2-day holiday, but in reality, Tharyília is the birthday-celebration of Apóllohn only;the birthday of Artæmis is a separate, though related, holiday.To summarize, May 20th is the birthday-celebration of Ártæmis. Apóllohn's birthday on occurs May 21st, and it alone is called Tharyília. While they are separate festivals, since they occur almost together, they are often thought of as one festival.
The Purification of the City In ancient Athens, before the birthday-celebration in honor of Ártæmis, there was the purification of the pólis (polis = city; Gr. πόλις). The pharmakí (pharmakoi; Gr. φαρμακόι), "scapegoats," one man and one woman representing the evil which had developed over the previous year in the pólis, were first symbolically feasted and then driven out.
Tháryilos
There is a traditional bread made from barley prepared for this festival called the Tháryilos (Gr. Θάργηλος). Alternately you can make a sweetened barley porridge. Soak a cup of barley for three hours in three cups of water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for one hour covered. Now add raisins, dates, nuts, and a little honey. Mix and simmer for another quarter hour. When you are ready to eat, you may add a little milk. The Tháryilos is eaten by the participants and some is offered to the Gods. PLEASE NOTE: Ritual in our tradition is not permitted to be displayed in a public place, such as this website. If you have a sincere desire to learn more, please write: Inquire.HellenicGods@gmail.com.
At the Tharyília, it would be quite appropriate to recite the Homeric hymn to Dílion (Delian; Gr. Δήλιον) Apollohn, as the hymn tells the story of the birth of the God. A printable pdf file of the hymn is available here: THE HOMERIC HYMN TO DÍLION (Delian) APÓLLOHN
Festivals of Apóllohn: KÁRNEIA-ΚΑΡΝΕΙΑ
GLOSSARY FOR THIS PAGE Ævdomaion - (Ebdomaion; Gr. Ἑβδομαῖον, ΕΒΔΟΜΑΙΟΝ) Ævdomaion is the monthly (ed. seventh-day) festival of Apóllohn. (L&S p. 466, right column, within the entries beginning ἑβδομᾱγέτης, edited for simplicity.)
Æpivatírion - (Epibaterion; Gr. Ἐπιβᾰτήριον, ΕΠΙΒΑΤΗΡΙΟΝ) Æpivatírion is a festival honoring the birthday of a God. (L&S p. 624, right column, within the entries beginning with ἐπιβατέον, definition III. of ἐπιβατήριος.) Dídymi - (Didymoi; Gr. Δίδυμοι, ΔΙΔΥΜΟΙ) Dídymi is Gemini, the ninth month of the Mystery year, and this entire month is under the dominion of Apóllohn. Gemini - See Dídymi. Genethlia - See Yænǽthlia. Tharyilióhn - (Thargelion; Gr. Θαργηλιών, ΘΑΡΓΗΛΙΩΝ) Tharyilióhn is the eleventh month of the ancient Attic calendar. Tháryilos - (thargelos; Gr. Θάργηλος, ΘΑΡΓΗΛΟΣ) Tháryilos was the traditional barley-loaf bread cooked for the birthday festival of Apóllohn. Yænǽthlia - (genethlia; Gr. γενέθλια, ΓΕΝΕΘΛΙΑ) Yænǽthlia is the word for birthday.
The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Rhapsodic Theogony.
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