Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • An ancient Greek festival with mysteries, celebrated by married women in honor of Demeter (Ceres) as the “mother of beautiful offspring.” Though not confined to Attica, it was especially observed at Athens and Eleusis.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word thesmophoria.

Examples

  • Of these things I know more fully in detail how they take place, but I shall leave this unspoken; and of the mystic rites of Demeter, which the Hellenes call thesmophoria, of these also, although I know, I shall leave unspoken all except so much as piety permits me to tell.

    The History of Herodotus Herodotus 2003

  • Of these things I know more fully in detail how they take place, but I shall leave this unspoken; and of the mystic rites of Demeter, which the Hellenes call thesmophoria, of these also, although I know, I shall leave unspoken all except so much as piety permits me to tell.

    An Account of Egypt: Being the Second Book of His Histories Called Euterpe. Paras. 60-77 Herodotus 1909

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.