BRAURONIA, in Grecian Antiquity, a festival celebrated every fifth year at the Attic town of Brauron, in honour of Artemis Brauronia (Diana). The ceremonies were conducted by ten superintendents called igoroi. The chief solemnity was a procession of girls between five and ten years of age, who went in crocus-coloured garments to the temple, where they were consecrated to the goddess. During this ceremony the hieropoioi sacrificed a goat, and the girls imitated bears. The origin of this custom is given by Suidas. There was another quinquennial festival of this name held at Brauron in honour of Dionysus (Bacchus).