Dēlĭa: ae, f., v. Delos
I no. II. A.
Dēlĭa,¹¹ æ, f. (Delos), Diane [née dans l’île de Délos] : Virg. B. 7, 29 || Délie [nom de femme] : Tib. 1, 1, 57.
Delia, Delian festival. The Delia (Greek: Δήλια) were festivals and games celebrated in classical antiquity at the great celebratory gathering (panegyris) on the island of Delos. This gathering was apparently originally related to the meetings of the Delian League, a religious alliance (amphictyony) to which the Cyclades and the neighboring Ionians on the coasts belonged. This amphictyony seems originally to have been instituted simply for the purpose of religious worship in the common sanctuary of Apollo Delios, the patron god (θεὸς πατρῳος, theos patroos) of the Ionians, who was believed to have been born at Delos. The Delia, as appears from the Homeric Hymn to Apollo (147), had existed from very early times, and were celebrated every fourth year, possibly in the Athenian month of Hieros, or in Thargelion, to apply to Delos the Athenian calendar. The members of the amphictyony assembled on these occasions (ὲθεώρουν) in Delos, in long garments, with their wives and children, to worship the god with gymnastic and musical contests, choruses, and dances. That the Athenians took part in these solemnities at a very early period, is evident from the Deliastoi (afterwards called Theoroi, Θεωροί) mentioned in the laws of Solon; the sacred vessel (θεωρίς), moreover, which they sent to Delos every year, was said to be the same which Theseus had sent after his return from Crete. The Delians, during the celebration of these solemnities, performed the office of cooks for those who visited their island, whence they were called Έλεοδύται.
