Kantharos Showing Dionysos On The Throne.(Apulian, About 335325B.C; Now In The Boston Museum)

Kantharos showing Dionysos on the throne. (Apulian, about 335–325 B.C; now in the Boston Museum…)

Today 21 February, ΔΙΟΣ (Thursday), Ἑνδεκάτη/ Πρώτη Μεσοῦντος, XI day From today’s sunset: eleventh day of Anthesterion. Beginning of the Anthesteria- I day: Pithoigia, opening of the pithoi, libations to Dionysos and tasting of the new wine. “Near the sanctuary of Dionysos en Limnais, the Athenians used to mix, taking it from the barrels, the new wine, which they have carried there, for the God and to taste it themselves. From this, Dionysos was called Limnaios, because the sweet wine, having been mixed with water, was drunk for the first time as a mixture. Because of this, the sources were called Nymphs and nurses of Dionysos…satisfied with the mixture, they sang hymns to Dionysos, danced and invoked Him, calling Him Flowery, Dithyrambos, Reveller, Bromios…” (Phanodemus, FGrHist 325 fr. 12) “Among the festivals of the Homeland, there are the Pithoigia, during which it is not lawful for a servant or salaried to refrain from enjoying wine, but, making sacrificial rites, it is customary that all participate in the gift of Dionysos.” Schol. Erga, 368 “Also the eleventh and twelfth are both excellent, alike for shearing sheep and for reaping the kindly fruits..” “Of the numbers after the decade, the eleventh refers to the first element of the monad. Thus, (Hesiod) has praised this one too, as it has analogies with that (the monad), inviting to the shearing of the sheeps and to the reaping of the fruits of the earth…Both aim to take care of the body, the one to the food, the other to protection. They are typical of the eleventh day since this is the beginning of the third pentad, the one that most enhances the light of the moon…” Schol. Erga, 774-776

Anthesteria -- the Festival of Flowers, the Feast of the Dead.  Welcome, Keres...

sex magix

Satyr and a red lady nymph... not sure who the artist is, but a nice style.  If anyone knows who the artist is, let me know!

(Same goes for any other picture I post without artist information...)