ADONIA, in Antiquity, solemn feasts in honour of Venus, and in memory of her beloved Adonis. The Adonia were observed with great solemnity by the Greeks, Phoenicians, Lycians, Syrians, Egyptians, &c. From Syria they are supposed to have passed into India. The prophet Ezekiel1 is understood to speak of them. They were still observed at Alexandria in the time of St Cyril, and at Antioch in that of Julian the Apostate, who happened to enter that
city during the solemnity, which was taken for an ill omen. The Adonia lasted two days; on the first of which certain images of Venus and Adonis were carried, with all the pomp and ceremonies practised at funerals: the women wept, tore their hair, beat their breasts, &c. imitating the cries and lamentations of Venus for the death of her paramour. This lamentation they called Adoniasmos. The Syrians were not contented with weeping, but subjected themselves to severe discipline, shaved their heads, &c. The second day was spent in merriment and feasting. This festival was a symbol of the dying and revival of nature; hence Adonis is said to have spent a part of the year in the lower world, and part in the upper, with Aphrodite, who represented the fructifying principle. See ADONIS.