322 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XV. 



lands. Every thing was carried on with the great- 

 est appearance of seriousness and gravity, and 

 nothing was tolerated that bore the least show of 

 wantonness and immodesty, or even of mirth ; 

 the custom of jesting upon one another excepted, 

 which was constantly done in memory of lambe, 

 who, by a taunting jest, extorted a smile from 

 Ceres, when in a pensive and melancholy humour. 

 Three days at least were spent in making pre- 

 parations for the festival. Upon the 11th of Pya- 

 nepsion, the women, carrying books upon their 

 heads containing the laws, in memory of Ceres's. 

 invention*, went to Eleusis, where the solemnity 

 was kept. This day was hence called Avohog, 'the 

 ascent.* Upon the 14th the festival began, and 

 lasted till the lyth. Upon the l6th they kept a 

 fast, sitting upon the ground, in token of humili- 

 ation : whence the day was called 'Nria-rsia, * the 

 fast.' 



" It was usual at this solemnity to pray to 

 Ceres, Proserpine, Pluto, and Calligenia ; though 

 some will have this Calligenia to have been Ceres's 

 nurse, others her priestess, others her waiting- 

 maid, and some suppose her the same as Ceres, t 

 The custom was omitted by the Eretrians alone 

 of all the Grecians. There was also a mysterious 

 sacrifice called Aicoyixa, or ATroS/ojy/^a, either be- 

 cause all men' were excluded and banished from it, 

 or because in a dangerous war the women's prayers 



* Conf. Diod. i. 14., where Ceres was called OtnjuniMpov. 

 f This is refuted by the testimony of Aristophanes. Vide Potter, 

 p. 4-04. 



