Alternately called Ἡρωίδος

Summary

The Herois festival is one of a series of Delphic festivals that takes place every eighth year, and - like the other rites in its series - very likely serves a purificatory purpose. It consisted of secret formulas known only to the Thyiades, but the public actions of the festivity suggest a connection with the rescue and apotheosis of Semele.

When

One of three ninth-year festivals, following Septerion, before Charilla

Likely towards the end of Autumn/start of winter, or very early spring

<aside> <img src="/icons/hourglass_pink.svg" alt="/icons/hourglass_pink.svg" width="40px" /> More on the timing of The Great Year

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Detail

The Herois is a ancient Delphic festival that occurs every eight years, in connection with the rescue and apotheosis of Semele. The festival may have been associated with death and rebirth, and almost certainly serves a purificatory purpose.

The Thyiades, who were Dionysos' servants, play a significant role in the festival, and the secrets of the festival are known only to them. The festival may have connections to Delphyne, Typhon-Python's fostermother, or Semele, Dionysos' mother. The festival of Herois represents the bringing up of Semele from the underworld.

How to celebrate

• a (real or virtual) procession or parade, with participants dressed as Dionysus and carrying symbols of the god.
• offerings of fruit, wine, and other agricultural products to honor the god of fertility.
• Music, dancing, and other forms of artistic expression could be incorporated into the celebration.
• rituals of purification and cleansing to honor the god and restore social order.
• Participants could engage in discussions about the myths and stories associated with Dionysus and the Herois festival.
• share you own artistic creations related to the festival, such as music, poetry, and artwork.

Sources

Now, if it must be understood as "consecutively" in a strict sense, it would mean that they were developed from, say, the beginning of the Boukatios until the end of the Heraios. This solution runs up against the difficulty that the Herois (explained by a myth of the anodos of Semele) and the Charilla (very close to the Athenian festival of the aiora, even because of the myth) are festivities more likely to belong to the Dionysiac months (winter).

– Emilio Suárez de la Torre $^{15}$