Book 4
16
They also celebrate copides in the city at the festival called Tithenidia,From τιθήνη, a nurse. which is celebrated on behalf of the children. For the nurses at this season bring the male children into the fields, and to the Diana surnamed Corythallia; whose temple is near the fountain called Tiassus, in the parts towards Cleta; and there they celebrate copides, in a manner similar to those which have been already mentioned. And they sacrifice small sucking-pigs, and they also at the feast set before the guests some of the loaves called ipnitæ. But this aiclon is called by all the other Dorians δεῖπνον. At all events Epicharmus, in his Hope, says— For some one of his own accord has ask'd you to an αἶκλον, And do thou gladly go in haste of your accord to eat it. And he repeats the same lines in his Periallus. But at Lacedæmon, after supper is over, they set what they call ἄϊκλον (not αἶκλον) before all those who come to the Phiditium; namely, loaves of bread in a small basket, and a slice of meat for each person. And an attendant follows the servant who distributes the portions, proclaiming the ἄϊκλον, adding to his proclamation the name of him who has sent it round.
