Curiosities & wonders > History of the heathen gods and heroes of antiquity, very necessary for understanding the writings of the ancients, and the modern English poets

5i THE HISTORY OF
eft religion, or rather the rankeil profanenefs and
impiety.
Ofcophoria were firft inftituted by the Phccni-
cians; when boys, carrying vine-leaves in their
hands, went praying trom the temple of Bacchus
to the chapel of Balias.
Trieterica were acted in the winter, and by
night; when the Bacchse, wandering about arm¬
ed, predidled things to come.
Epilenasa, were games in the time of the vin¬
tage ; when they contended at treading the grapes,
and linging, all the while, the praifes of Bacchus.
Canephoria, among the ancient Athenians, were
performed by marriageable virgins, carrying gold¬
en balkets filled with the firft-fruits of the year.
Apaturia were fearts in honour of Bacchus, let¬
ting forth, how greatly men are deceived by wine.
Ambrofia were obferved in January; becaufe
that month was facred to this god.
Afcalia were fo called from a Greek word fignify-
ing bottles; many whereof they filled with wind,
or with wine, and leaping upon them with one foot,
they thought that they did great honour to Bac¬
chus, becaufe they thus trampled upon the Ikin of
the goat, who is the greateft enemy to the vines.
Laftly, The Bacchanalia, or Idionyfia, or Orgia,
were fealts among the Romans, folemnized in Feb¬
ruary, at mid-day, at firft by women only; but
afterwards by men alfo, by boys and girls, who left
no fort of lewdnefs and debauchery uncommitted ;
for upon this occafion, rapes, whoredoms, poifon,
murder, and fuch abominable impieties were pro¬
moted under a pretence of religion, till, by an e-
diift of the fenate, thefe deftruclive feitivals were
abrogated.
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