Note 288 — Chapter III · HARVEST FESTIVALS. The Thargelia, Kallynteria, Plynteria.
Reading edition
I have elsewhere (J.H.S. XIX. 1899, p. 223) stated that the word ‘Stepterion’ cannot to my thinking be translated ‘Festival of Crowning.’ This explanation rests only on Aelian (Hist. An. XII. 34), and purification (κάθαρσις, ἔκθυσις), not crowning, is the main gist of the ceremonies. The name Stepterion, is, I suspect, connected with the enigmatic στέφη and στέφειν as occurring in Aesch. Choeph. 94, Soph. Ant. 431, Elec. 52, 458, and means in some way purification.