Offerings to the Eumenides

Several months ago, I decided to create a shrine to the Eumenides and Kharites. After starting my research on the cult of the Eumenides/Semnai Theai/Erinyes, I decided to hold off on posting anything of substance until I had gotten to a good place in the research. Currently, "good place" means that I have a pretty general idea about days sacred to the Eumenides and offerings. Right now, I am hoping that some sources I have just acquired will provide more information about cult centers.

There is a holiday called the Eumenideia, which does not seem to have a preserved date anywhere in the English-language sources I have found. It takes place near the Diasia (which happens in Anthesterion during the Lesser Mysteries). Because Anthesterion begins in the next few weeks, now seems a good time to compile a portion of the information I have. I have set a tentative date of the Eumenideia during the last three days of Anthesterion barring any new findings. My reasons for doing this should become clear as I post information. Eventually, much of this will go on a Neokoroi-based God page, but I want to make this available to anyone who would like to join me in sacrificing to the Eumenides this Anthesterion.

As far as cultic offerings go, the Eumenides can receive honey-sweet cakes, which is typical for the Chthonic deities and dead. They also like honey mixed with water, but one shouldn't offer them wine. (Incence is all right, though.) One of the most interesting offerings is raw wool. Theoi.com's page on the Erinyes provides the following:

"[On the road to Titane, Sikyonia] on the other side of the Asopos River, is a grove of holm oaks and a temple of the goddesses named by the Athenians Semnai (August), and by the Sikyonians Eumenides (Kindly Ones). On one day in each year they celebrate a festival to them and offer sheep big with young as a burnt offering, and they are accustomed to use a libation of honey and water, and flowers instead of garlands. They practise similar rites at the altar of the Moirai (Fates); it is in an open space in the grove." - Pausanias, Guide to Greece 2.11.4

Offerings to the Eumenides were very connected to the Orphic and Bacchic Mysteries as well. This is personally significant because I observed a modern Orphic ritual this December to Dionysos, and it makes me wonder about my current desire to revive their cultus. Of course, I could just be reading too much into my personal feelings.

The Derveni commentator, who is pre-Platonic in philosophical outlook if not date, is aware of a preliminary sacrifice that the initiates (mystai) offer to the Eumenides "in the same way as the magoi." The magoi offered cakes and libations of water and milk as part of a sacrifice that they perform "as if they were paying a penalty;" the aim of their rite was to placate dead souls that might otherwise "be in the way."

(Ritual Texts for the Afterlife, 149).

Offerings of raw wool are most connected to Demeter Erinys, but wool was also acceptable to the Eumenides.

I'll move on to the Eumenideia and sacred days next time.