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The Noumenia and Epimenia in Athens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2011

Jon D. Mikalson
Jon D. Mikalson
Affiliation:
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
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Abstract

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Type
Notes and Observations
Information
Harvard Theological Review , Volume 65 , Issue 2 , April 1972 , pp. 291 - 296
Copyright
Copyright © President and Fellows of Harvard College 1972

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References

1 I wish to thank Professor S. Dow and Professor Z. Stewart, who have generously offered suggestions and criticism to me in my study of the Noumenia.

2 In this the Noumenia differs from Apollo's day, the seventh day of the month, because in different months different festivals occurred on the seventh day, e.g., the Pyanopsia on Pyanopsion 7 and the Thargelia on Thargelion 7.

3 E.g., on Boedromion 2, the day of the Niketeria (IG I2 304, lines 54–56); on Gamelion 7, Apollo's sacred day (IG I2 328, lines 5–6).

4 Nilsson, M. P., Die Entstehung und religiöse Bedeutung des griechischen Kalendars2 (1962), 40–42Google Scholar; and Noumenia, , RE 17 (1937), 1292–94Google Scholar.

5 Ziehen, L., Noumenia, RE 17 (1937), 1294–95Google Scholar.

6 Also Alkiphron III, 61, 2 and III, 38, 1; Lukian, Merc. Cond. 23.

7 Aristophanes Nub. 1131–1141.

8 For the nature of this “banqueting fraternity,” see Caliioun, G. M., Athenian Clubs in Politics and Litigation, 32–33.Google Scholar

9 Etym. Magn. 131.13.

10 For the involvement of numerous deities at Athens note plural ἀγάλμασιν in schol. to Aristophanes Vesp. 94. Also plural θɛοῖς in Demosthenes 25.99, t o be discussed infra.

11 For a similar cleaning and adorning of a statue on the Noumenia at Erythrai, see SIG 3 284.

12 Ziehen, , Noumenia, RE 17, 1295.Google Scholar

13 Nilsson, , Noumenia, RE 17, 1293.Google Scholar

14 ἔξω τῶν ἑορτῶν ἱεραί τινες τοῦ μηνòς ἡμέραι νομίςονται Ἀθἡνησιν θεοῖς τισίν, οἷον νουμηνία καὶ ἑβδóμη Ἀπóλλωνι.

15 A possible objection might be that ἐπιμήνιος is merely a common adjective meaning “monthly,” and that therefore the coincidence in Herodotus and Hesychios is not significant. In Athenian sources, however, ἐπιμήνιος is rarely attested. Further, as was pointed out to me by Professor Z. Stewart, the wording of Herodotus 8.41 suggests that a technical term (i.e., ἐπιμήνια) is being defined.

16 Theophrastus Char. 4.12: καὶ (ὁ ἄγροικος) ɛἰς ἄστυ καταβαίνων ἐρωτῆσαι τὸν ἀπαντῶντα…ɛἰ σήμɛρον ὁ ἅρχων νουμηνίαν ἄγɛι

17 Athenaios 6.234 E: τὰ δὲ ἐπιμήνια θυέτω ὸ ἱɛρɛύς.