Carnelian

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Karneia (Greek Καρνεῖα) was the festival in honor of the god Apollo Carneios , it was mainly celebrated in the region around Sparta in August and lasted 9 days. The festival ended with a full moon. The month was named after him as Carneios .

As part of the festival, in addition to sporting competitions, a music competition for kithara players was held since 676 BC. Chr. The winners were recorded. The first known winner was Terpandros .

As a further important rite of this festival, a young man who had prayed to the “city gods” in advance was hunted by the unmarried men, the so-called Staphylodromoi (grapevines). If caught it was a good omen for the polis , but if he escaped it was a bad sign for the future.

It was a very important festival for the Spartans. So it was not allowed to go to war during this time. This resulted in the Spartans arriving late at the Battle of Marathon .

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