Themis, a study of the social origins of Greek ... - Warburg Institute

306 Daimon and Hero [CH.
^ to us as the Theoxenia, 'Banquet of the gods.' A couch is set
with cushions and coverlet, a table spread with fruit and cakes;
below it an altar on which the male worshipper is placing some
. the
object. The guests are arriving. The woman lifts her hand to
welcome the great Epiphany. The guests are the 'Great Gods,'
magnificently galloping down from high heaven on their prancing
horses, preceded by Nike with a garland. Above them in
pediment Helios is rising. The inscription reads ©eot?
Fig. 86.
fxeydXois Aavda '
ArdoveLret[a] 'To the Great Gods Danaa
daughter of...'; the reading of the second name is uncertain.
What is the meaning of this absurd, incompatible representa-
tion ? Simply this. In the Theoxenia we have the old magical
service of the panspermia and the pankarpia Olympianized. In
the old order the pot of seeds or the liknon full of fruits were in
themselves sanctities; they were themselves carried and conse-
crated as dirapxal or first-fruits; they were tabooed from man's
use that they might be the seed and source of fertility for the
coming year. There are as yet no human gods, there is no gift-
sacrifice. There are only vague shapes of daimones that crystallize