Delian Festival

It was the custom at these events to select the Moon-Bride. The hera is a feminine hero, The Herarea selects the girl hera who is worthy to recive the hero. The games began as a form of hero worship. There was a hero of both sexes. The union of these two was thought to provide the most benificial cosmic result. Hera as queen of the heavens suggests that marriage has cosmic implications. Both the hero and the bride were selected by a foot race. Later other events were introduced and the bride was isolated from the hero. Hera becomes the bride of the ultimate hero Zeus.

These traditions were followed on Delos. They honored the twelve gods. Delia was a special event for Apollo.

Select officials all citizens of Hellas, accompaied by brilliant retinue of nobility set out in all directions to proclaim that the rituals for the Delian Games were starting. Onlookers came from all over the Greek and known world.

The games started with a short distance sprint for the lighting of the flame which would be used for the sacrifice to the god. The prize was called the "Athlon" and was a head wreath of cotinus, a branch of wild olive. There were also contests for the trumpeters and heralds.

The games were a panegyris. The religious character is the prominent feature. There were also political discussions and commercial trade. Prayers, sacrifices and processions were made. It was an event to look forward to for many good times were had with much feasting and friendly competition.

Every year athletes attended the games from all over Hellas. The festival was included every four years.

The last day of the games the winners marched to the temple for the official crowning. They wore a scarlet woolen strap on their heads and held a palm branch in the right hand. The strap was a symbol of conscration and was used to decorate ritual objects. The palm was associated with the Hero Theseus who instituted the games on Delos on honor of the Delian Apollo who awards with palm branches. Thus decorated the winners walked the sacred path to the temple while the crowds idolized and showered them with flowers and branches. In the alter hall the crowns were laid on a gold and ivory table. They had been cut from the sacred olive by a child who was "amphithales", [both parents were alive and healthy]. The branches were cut with golden scissors and were exactly as many as were the winners.