Sexual life in ancient Greece : with thirty-two full-page plates

FESTIVALS

Strabo, xii, 564); but we know that this festival also had its root originally in homoerotic. Hylas was a beautiful boy, whom Heracles loved beyond everything. He accompanied the hero on the voyage of the Argonauts; but, while drinking from a spring, was carried down into the water by the nymphs, who were seized with a violent passion for him.

This much may be said of the festivals celebrated in the land of the Hellenes. Out of the abundant material available we have selected what appeared specially characteristic for the purpose of the present work. Completeness has neither been achieved, nor attempted. We are acquainted with yet other festivals, the mention of which would, however, only be a repetition of what has been already said.

1 On the love of Heracles for Hylas, see the wonderful description by Theocritus, Idyll, xiii.

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