Panathenaea: Or, A Singular Book on the Twin Festival of Minerva

CHAPTER VI.

It should be known, however, that they were twofold; the former were called the Minor, the latter the Major. And the former were held every year, the latter only every fifth year. Suidas: "The Panathenaea were held twice at Athens; some every year, others every five years, which they also called the Great ones." Harpocration had said this in the same words before him, whom he copied, as he is accustomed to do. Anonymus in the Argument of the Midiana informs us that the Minor ones were accustomed to be celebrated every third year, not every year: "Various festivals were held among the Athenians, among which were the Panathenaea. These were twofold, minor and major. And the major ones were performed every five years, but the minor ones every three years." There is a great error in the Scholiast of Aristophanes, who denies that there were any Minor ones. For to that verse in the Peace,

"And we will hold the Great Panathenaea for you,"
he notes thus: "He does not say this because there were no minor ones, but to increase the favor." The Minor ones were celebrated on the day after the Bendideia; that is, the 20th of the month of Thargelion: but the major ones on the 24th of Hecatombaeon. Proclus on Plato’s Timaeus, Comment. 1: "And if, as will be said next, it is assumed that the Panathenaea are taking place, it is clear that these were the Minor Panathenaea. For the Great ones were held on the 23rd of Hecatombaeon." I said the Minor ones were held the day after the Bendideia; hence it is that he says later that both this and that were around the same time. "In the Minor [Panathenaea], for these were performed around the same time as the Bendideia." And elsewhere again, clearly enough: "That the Panathenaea (the Minor ones) followed the Bendideia, the commentators say. And Aristotle of Rhodes records that the Bendideia in the Piraeus were performed on the 20th of Thargelion, and that the festivals concerning Athena followed." Here, observe that the 20th day is assigned to the Bendideia by that Aristotle of Rhodes; whereas others say they were accustomed to be celebrated on the 19th. But that is a slight difference, of only one day. And they report to us that by the Minor ones the sea was opened, and navigation began again; which others ascribed to the vernal Dionysia. That passage of Aristotle is on this matter, On the Generation of Animals, Book 1: "After the Panathenaea, the sailing." For it must be understood regarding the Minor ones; since the Major ones were held in Hecatombaeon, or June. And one must consider that Maximus Tyrius speaks of these par excellence when he separates them from the spring, during which the minor ones were performed. Dissertation XXXIII: "And the seasons shared their pleasures among them. In spring, the Dionysia. In autumn, the mysteries. And another god has another season. The Panathenaea, the Scirophoria, the Aloa, the Apaturia."