A spring festival in Edessa, 498 CE (1)

Text
pseudo-Joshua the Stylite, Chronicle 30:
While this was going on, the time came round again for the festival at which the pagan myths were chanted, and (this year) the citizens took even more care over it than usual. For seven days before it they were going up in a crowd from the theatre in the evening, dressed in linen tunics. (Their heads) were covered by turbans, their loins free, candles burning in front of them. For the whole night they burnt incense and held vigils, walking all round the city and praising the dancer until morning, with singing, shouting, and riotous behaviour.

Source (list of abbreviations)
pseudo-Joshua the Stylite, Chronicle 30

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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