Chapter III

HARVEST FESTIVALS. THE THARGELIA, KALLYNTERIA, PLYNTERIA.

The Thargelia an early summer festival of first-fruits. The
Eiresione. Object of the offering of first-fruits a release
from taboo. The Australian Intichiuma. Removal of taboo
developes into idea of consecration, dedication, sacrifice.
The material of sacrifice. The god fares as the worshipper,
but sometimes, from conservatism, fares worse. Instances in
ritual of survival of primitive foods. The οὐλοχύται, the
pelanos and the nephalia. The fireless sacrifice. The bringing
in of first-fruits preceded by ceremonies of purification.
The pharmakos. Details of the ritual. The pharmakos only
incidentally a ‘human sacrifice.’ Its object physical and
spiritual purgation. Meaning of the term. The pharmakos in
Egypt, at Chaeronea, at Marseilles. Analogous ceremonies. The
Charila at Delphi. The Bouphonia. The Stepterion. Further
ceremonies of purification. The Kallynteria, Plynteria,
Vestalia. General conclusion: in the Thargelia the gist of
sacrifice is purification, a magical cleansing as a
preparation for the incoming of first-fruits, pp. 75-119.