Home1860 Edition

APOPEMPTIC

Volume 3 · 117 words · 1860 Edition

(ἀποπεμπτικός), in Ancient Poetry, a hymn addressed to a stranger on his departure from a place to his own country. The ancients had certain holydays, wherein they took leave of the gods with apopemptic songs, as supposing them returning each to his own country. The deities having the patronage of divers places, it was but just to divide their presence, and allow some time to each. Hence it was that among the Delians and Milesians we find feasts of Apollo, and among the Argives feasts of Diana, called Eja-demier, as supposing these deities then more peculiarly resident among them. On the last day of the feast they dismissed them, following them to the altars with apopemptic hymns.