pomegranate, which was considered dead-man's food and inappropriate for a feast honouring Demeter, as it was the fruit that drew her Persephone back into the shades of Hades. The Archons in Eleusis would prepare the tables for the women, and then wait outside to show visiting foreigners that civilized foods originated in Eleusis and were dispersed to the rest of mankind from Eleusis. Women's activity Ritualistically, Haloa was similar to Thesmophoria, another festival in honour of Demeter, in the significance of women's participation. Both festivals involved “lusty words” and activities, an abundance of sexual symbols, and the consumption of much wine and pornographic confectionery. The women celebrated alone so that “they might have perfect freedom of speech” and some sources state that “the scared symbols of both sexes were handled, the priestesses secretly whispered into the ears of the women present words that might not be uttered aloud, and the women themselves uttered all manner of… unseemly quips and jests.” 123 Demosthenes highlights the role of the priestess, pointing out that she, rather than the Hierophant (chief priest at the Eleusinian Mysteries), presented the fruit offerings and conducted the initiation ceremonies under the presidency of women. He also emphasizes that it was unlawful to offer any blood sacrifice, using as example the story of a Hierophant who was cursed because he offered “in the court of Eleusis burnt sacrifice of an animal victim.” References Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities Further resources Evy Johanne Håland has a presentation of the festival and analysis in her two-volume work on Greek Festivals, Modern and Ancient: A Comparison of Female and Male Values, Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2017 (http://www.cambridgescholars.com/search?Q=h%C3%A5land&As=true&As=false&Mid=0&Sid=true&Sid=false), esp. Ch. 5-7. See also Håland, Evy Johanne. "The Ritual Year Of Athena: The Agricultural Cycle Of The Olive, Girls' Rites Of Passage, And Official Ideology." Journal of Religious History 36.2 (2012): p256-284. Lowe, NJ. “Thesmophoria and haloa: myth, physics and mysteries.” The Sacred and the Feminine in Ancient Greece. 1 January 1998. P120-149. Dillon, Matthew. Girls and Women in Classical Greek Religion. Routledge, 2003. Festivals in ancient Athens Festivals of Demeter Festivals of Persephone Greek festivals of Dionysus January observances December observances