DIASIA. – An ancient Athenian popular festival celebrated on the 23rd of Anthesterion (March) in honor of Zeus Meilichios.
The victims offered were completely burned, as was customary for chthonic deities; the crowd offered cakes shaped like animals. Officially, the D. had a solemn character, but there were merry private banquets and gifts were made to children, perhaps because it was believed that, once the sacrifices were completed, the god’s benevolence was assured. There was a literary contest with ears of grain as prizes.
BIBL.: A. Pitti, s. V. ENOCH. Ital., XII (1931), p. 748; L. Deubner, Attische Feste, Berlin-Leipzig 1932, p. 115 ff.
LUISA BANI