Arrhephoros
The arrhephoroi (English: 'Bearers of the Mysteries') were young girls chosen to serve the goddess Athena from among the noble families of Athens, Attika, Greece. Living within the House of the Arrhephoroi on the Akropolis Sanctuary, the girls were vital in the festivals of Arrhephoria and Panathenaia. In the former, they carried covered objects given to them by the priestess of Athena from the acropolis down to the precinct of Aphrodite.[1]
Therein they exchanged the objects for others, and returned to the acropolis. Preceding the Panathenaia festival, the arrhephoroi aided the priestess of the temple with the weaving of a new peplos, a garment, for Athena. After nine months of weaving, the peplos was presented to the goddess during the festival.[1]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece (mentioned only)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece – Tours: The Akropolis of Athens: "House of the Arrhephoroi"