NIGHT PROCESSION ON PANATHENAIA

This article analyzes the role and place of night marchers in the structure Panathenaia. Night rally began with a torch run Athens efebos, which brought the fire on the altar of Athena. This contest was connected with the mythology of the Athenian autochthonous Erichthonios and three sisters Cecropides - Aglaura, Padrosa and Herses. During the night of the procession (pannuchis) was held the music festival, the Athens boys and girls who sang hymns in honor of Athena. This musical feast was reflected in the tragedies of Aeschylus and Euripides. Also, important was the ritual of Arrephoroi, which was associated with the mythology Cecropides. However, the main task of the night Panathenaic procession was associated with civil oath efebos, which brought her to the sanctuary of the goddess Aglaura (V century BC), and later in the sanctuary other Cecropides - Pandrosa and Kourotropha (IV century BC). This oath was the expression of a number of Patriotic myths associated with the motive of duty to the Athens.

Greater Panathenaia, Panathenaic frieze, torch run, Erichtonius, Cecropides, Arrephoraia