Panathenaea
The most important festival of Athens, held annually in honour of Athena with a grand procession, athletic contests, and the presentation of a new peplos to the goddess.
The Meaning of Panathenaea
The Panathenaea honoured Athena, patron goddess of Athens, and was celebrated every year with a Greater festival every fourth year. According to tradition, Erichthonius or Theseus founded the festival to unite the people of Attica. The celebration began with athletic and musical contests held at the Panathenaic Stadium. Winners received amphorae filled with sacred olive oil from Athena's grove. The climax was a grand procession depicted on the Parthenon frieze, ascending the Acropolis to present Athena's ancient olivewood statue in the Erechtheion with a newly woven peplos. Horsemen, sacrificial cattle, kanephoroi carrying baskets, and representatives of every class of Athenian society participated. Hephaestus and Prometheus were honoured with torch races along the Kerameikos.
Parents
Athena, Erichthonius
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, rebuilt in marble for the first modern Olympics in 1896, is the only stadium in the world made entirely of marble. It seats 50,000 people and was originally built in 330 BC for the Panathenaea — making it the oldest Olympic venue still in use, with a continuous athletic tradition spanning 2,300 years.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
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