A festival of Hierapolis (3)

Text
pseudo-Lucian, De Dea Syria 49:
Of all festivals I have known about, however, the greatest is the one they hold at the beginning of spring. Some call it “Fire-Festival,” others “Torch Festival.” During the festival they sacrifice like this: They chop down large trees and stand them in the courtyard. Then they drive in goats, sheep, and other livestock and hang them alive from the trees. In the trees are also birds, clothes, and gold and silver artifacts. When they have made everything ready, they carry the sacred objects around the trees and throw fire in, and everything is immediately burnt. Many men come to this feast from Syria and all the surrounding lands. Each group brings its own holy objects and each has a “Sign” (σημήϊον) made in imitation of the one here.

Source (list of abbreviations) (source links will open in a new browser window)
pseudo-Lucian, De Dea Syria 49

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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