So far a cursory inspection clearly shows that the Anthesteria was a wine-festival in honour of Dionysos. Moreover we have the definite statement of Thucydides[62] that ‘the more ancient Dionysia were celebrated on the 12th day of the month Anthesterion in the temple of Dionysos in the Marshes.’ The reference can only be to the Choes, so that the festival of the Choes seems actually to have borne the name Dionysia. Harpocration[63] goes even further; he says, quoting Apollodorus, that ‘the whole month was sacred to Dionysos.’ A more searching examination of the sources reveals beneath the surface rejoicings, as in the case of the Diasia, another and more primitive ritual, and a ritual of widely different significance. It has escaped no student of Greek festivals that through the Anthesteria there ran ‘a note of sadness.’ Things were not altogether so merry as they seemed. This has been variously explained, as due to the ‘natural melancholy of the spring,’ or more recently as evidence of the fact that Dionysos had his ‘chthonic side’ and was the ‘Lord of souls.’ A simpler explanation lies at the door. The clue to the real gist of the Anthesteria is afforded by a piece of ritual performed on the last day, the _Chytroi_. The Greeks had a proverbial expression spoken, we are told, of those who ‘on all occasions demand a repetition of favours received.’ It ran as follows: ‘Out of the doors! ye Keres; it is no longer Anthesteria.’ Suidas[64] has preserved for us its true signification; it was spoken, he says, ‘implying that in the Anthesteria the ghosts are going about in the city.’ From this fragmentary statement the mandate, it is clear, must have been spoken at the close of the festival, so we cannot be wrong in placing it as the last act of the Chytroi.