Note 250 — ARRIAN ON COURSING.
William Dansey translation
L. vii.
Martial. Epigr. L. xii. Ep. 68.
Antiquit. Roman. Tom. i. 662.
Ὁπόταν γενέθλια ἥκη τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος. The gods of antiquity had their natal days as well as men. “Dies nobis natalitii sunt,” says Arnobius, “et potentias cœlites dies autumant habere natales.” The anniversary of Diana’s birth-day (see Ad. Turnebi Adversar. L. viii. c. xxvi.) was celebrated on the 13th of August—“Augustis redit Idibus Diana.” “Feriis suis, emeritos canes, quietosque à venatione, et immunes habere credebatur, et ipsa etiam feriari,” in the words of Pitiscus.
Statii Sylv. L. iii. l. 57.
Ipsa coronat Emeritos Diana canes, et spicula tergit, Et tutas sinit ire feras.
Pausanias in Achaicis c. xviii. describes a splendid celebration of the sylvan rites of Diana Laphria by the people of Patræ, in costliness and magnificence far surpassing these Celtic ceremonies, but in character somewhat similar. The festival of Patræ was also annual, as in Celtica.