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Thargelion

Historical Festival
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Eleventh month of the Athenian calendar and its late spring festivals, including the Thargelia honoring Apollo and Artemis with first-fruits offerings

Detailed Definition
Thargelion was the eleventh month of the Athenian calendar (roughly May-June), named for the Thargelia festival honoring Apollo and Artemis with offerings of first fruits. The festival included purification rituals, the expulsion of pharmakoi (scapegoats), and celebrations of early harvest. In poetry, Thargelion represents agricultural thanksgiving, ritual purification, and late spring's bounty, appearing in works exploring first-fruits offerings, scapegoat rituals, seasonal transitions from spring to summer, and the Greek practice of purifying communities before harvest through the expulsion of pollution and consecration of crops to divine patrons.
Example
Example in poetry:
Thargelion appears in late spring poetry as month of first fruits and purification; Poets reference the season of Apollo's birth and scapegoat rituals; "In Thargelion, the city cleanses itself through sacred expulsion" shows usage; The month provides material for verses on renewal through sacrifice and seasonal transition; Greek calendar poetry uses Thargelion for themes of purification and agricultural thanksgiving; Contemporary verse employs the term for exploring cathartic ritual and spring's culmination
Additional Notes
Thargelion as Athens's eleventh month hosted late spring festivals including the Thargelia honoring Apollo and Artemis. The month's name connects to first-fruits offerings and harvest beginnings. Understanding Thargelion helps contextualize late spring festivals and their connection to early harvest and agricultural thanksgiving. The month marks transition from spring to summer, reflected in festivals emphasizing purification, first-fruits dedication, and preparation for full harvest season.
Also Known As
purification month Apollo rites scapegoat ceremony
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