in Grecian antiquity, a festival in honour of Diana the huntress. In the celebration a cake was made in the form of a deer (ἀλέπιον), and offered to the goddess. It owed its institution to the following circumstance: When the Thessalians had been severely beaten by the Thessalians, they resolved, by the perfusion of one Deiphantus, to raise a pile of combustible materials, and burn their wives, children, and effects, rather than submit to the enemy. This resolution was unanimously approved by the women, who decreed Deiphantus a crown for his magnanimity. When everything was prepared, before they fired the pile, they engaged their enemies, and fought with such desperate fury, that they totally routed them, and obtained a complete victory. In commemoration of this unexpected success, this festival was instituted to Diana, and observed with the greatest solemnity.