STHE´NIA
STHE´NIA (
σθένια), a
festival with contests celebrated by the Argives in honour of Zeus surnamed
Sthenius, who had an altar consisting of a large rock in the neighbourhood
of Hermione (
Hesych. sub voce
Σθένια: compare
Paus. 2.32.7;
34.6). Plutarch
(
de Mus. p. 1140 c) states that the
πάλη or wrestling, which formed a part
of the contests at this festival, was accompanied by the flute; and he also
mentions a tradition according to which the festival had originally been
held in honour of Danaus, and that it was afterwards consecrated to Zeus
Sthenius.
[
L.S]