- Soteria (festival)
The Soteria were ancient festivals held in many Greek cities from the IIIBC. They honoured the saviour ("Sôter") of a danger and could be dedicated to all the gods or only one (mainly
Zeus "Soterios"). Heroic men regarded as deliverers were sometimes associated to the divinities, e.g.Aratus atSicyon .The most famous "Soteria" in the antiquity were those held at
Delphi . They had been instituted to commemorate the victory over thecelt invader Brennus (279 BC). They were composed of sports and musical competitions. Many cities were invited to the Delphi’s Soteria. In 246 BC, theAetolian confederacy reorganized the festivities in order to equal others ancient games (Pythian games ...)."The Oxford Classical Dictionary" edited by S.Hornblower, A.Spawforth (1996)
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