In the pages that follow but little attention will be paid to the familiar rites of the Olympians, the burnt sacrifice and its attendant feast, the dance and song; our whole attention will be focussed on the rites belonging to the lower stratum. This course is adopted for two reasons. First, the rites of sacrifice as described by Homer are simple and familiar, needing but little elucidation and having already received superabundant commentary, whereas the rites of the lower stratum are often obscure and have met with little attention. Second, it is these rites of purification belonging to the lower stratum, primitive and barbarous, even repulsive as they often are, that furnished ultimately the material out of which ‘mysteries’ were made—mysteries which, as will be seen, when informed by the new spirit of the religions of Dionysos and Orpheus, lent to Greece its deepest and most enduring religious impulse. ATTIC CALENDAR. NOTE. Names of Festivals selected for special discussion are printed in large type. Names of Festivals incidentally discussed in italics. 1. Hecatombaion July, August Kronia, Panathenaia 2. Metageitnion Aug., September Metageitnia 3. Boedromion Sept., October Eleusinia and _Greater Mysteries_ 4. _Pyanepsion_ Oct., November THESMOPHORIA. Pyanepsia and Oschophoria [Id. Oct. (Oct. 15) October Horse] 5. Maimakterion Nov., December ‘Διὸς κώδιον’ 6. Poseideon Dec., January _Haloa_ 7. Gamelion Jan., February Gamelia (Lenaia?) 8. _Anthesterion_ Feb., March ANTHESTERIA, DIASIA, _Lesser Mysteries_ [XV. Kal. Mart. (Feb. 15) Lupercalia] [(Feb. 21) Feralia] 9. Elaphebolion March, April Dionysia 10. Munychion April, May Munychia, Brauronia 11. _Thargelion_ May, June THARGELIA, _Kallynteria_, _Plynteria_ (May 15 Argei, June 15 Vestalia, Q. St. D. F.) 12. Skirophorion June, July _Skirophoria_, _Arrephoria_, Dipolia, Bouphonia