Note 318 — Chapter IV · THE WOMEN’S FESTIVALS. Thesmophoria, Arrephoria, Skirophoria, Stenia, Haloa.
Reading edition
Dr Frazer reminds me that Prof. Robertson Smith (Religion of the Semites, p. 183) derived μέγαρον from the Phoenician maghar, Hebrew meghara ‘a cave.’ The form μάγαρον adduced by Aelian, favours this view; cf. also Photius s.v. μάγαρον· οὐ μέγαρον, εἰς ὃ τὰ μυστικὰ ἱερὰ κατατίθενται· οὕτως Μένανδρος.