Brauronia

Brauronia was an ancient Athenian festival celebrated in honor of Brauronian Artemis, a chthonic and perinatal aspect of the goddess Artemis. The festival took place annually at Brauron, a sanctuary located on the eastern coast of Attica, and also at a sanctuary on the Athenian Acropolis. The most prominent ritual involved young girls, typically between the ages of five and ten, who served Artemis as "arktoi" or she-bears. These girls would dress in saffron-colored robes, mimicking the fur of bears, and engage in dances and rituals at the sanctuary.

The myth associated with the Brauronia tells of a she-bear that was killed by one of Artemis's lovers or a boy at Brauron. In response, Artemis, enraged, sent a plague upon Athens. To appease the goddess, the Athenians were instructed to offer their young daughters to her service at Brauron, a ritual that was later transformed into the she-bear cult. The Arktoi period of service was likely a rite of passage, preparing the girls for their future roles as women and mothers.

The festival involved processions, sacrifices, and athletic contests. It was a significant event in the Athenian religious calendar, highlighting the importance of Artemis in relation to childbirth, protection of young children, and the transition of girls into womanhood. The remnants of the Brauron sanctuary, including its stoa and temple, provide archaeological evidence for the scale and importance of this ancient ritual.