The Herakleia is a festival celebrated in honor of Herakles. Not much more is knopwn of it, but other Herakleia in the Greek world had a strong connection to Athletic events and the Gymnasia. Perhaps he was honoured here alongside other Gymnasia gods, such as Hermes. Delphi’s connection to Herakles is strong, from a mythological point of view. The proximity of Boeotia to Delphi may have also influenced the bonds between Heracles and the Delphic tradition$^{15}$.
The Herakleia games that are known about primarily feature men's events, such as the stadion race and heavy-armed race. These games are relatively rare, with significant celebrations recorded in Rhodes and Thebes. In other locations, the Herakleia festivals were more localized, focusing on gymnastic contests associated with local gymnasia.
In the month of Herakleios. The day chosen is based on Herakles' sacred day in the Attic calender, shared with Hermes with whom he shares patronage over Gymnasia
the bonds that link Heracles to Delphi are well known, and the nearness of Boeotia may have had some influence
– Emilio Suárez de la Torre, Neoptolemos at Delphi $^{15}$
The men's festival is apparently the Herakleia, a ceremony which is recorded in the same inscription, and is probably a survival of a ritual listed in some earlier records as Βοκοπισ Θεοδαισια. Τhe name Βοκοπισ suggests the strange worship of Herakles at Lindos, during which an ox was offered as sacrifice, while a priest stood aside and hurled imprecations upon the hero. The only games recorded in the later Herakleia are the men's stadion and the heavy-armed race. Herakleia games are on the whole of comparatively rare occurrence, and aside from the Rhodian festival the only Herakleia agon of any significance was celebrated at Thebes. There it is recorded as one of the oldest and most sacred of Boeotian institutions.
^ in other localities Herakleia festivals were of later foundation, and seem not to have been public festivals in any sense, but gymnastic agones connected with local gymnasia. Herakles was often associated with Hermes as patron of such gymnasia. cf. my "Festivals of Euboea,"A.J.A xxxiii, 1929, p. 389.
– Irene Ringwood Arnold, Festivals of Rhodes $^{38}$
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