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p1125 Theophania

Article by Leonhard Schmitz, Ph.D., F.R.S.E., Rector of the High School of Edinburgh
on p1125 of

William Smith, D.C.L., LL.D.:
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875.

THEOPHA′NIA (θεοφάνια), a festival celebrated at Delphi, on the occasion of which the Delphians filled the huge silver crater which had been presented to the Delphic god by Croesus (Herod. I.51). Valckenaer on Herodotus (l.c.) thought that the reading was corrupt, and that Θεοξένια should be read, as this festival is well known to have been celebrated by the Delphians (Plut. de his qui sero a num. pun. p557F; Polemon, ap. Athen. IX p372). But both festivals are mentioned together by Pollux (I.34), and Philostratus (Vit. Apollon. IV.31). The Theophania were intended as a celebration of the return of Apollo to Delphi from which he was believed to be absent during the winter months. An agon called theoxenia was also celebrated at Pellene in Achaia in honour of Hermes and Apollo (Schol. ad Pind. Ol. VII.156, IX.146). But no particulars of any of these festivals are known.

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