[51] Journal of Sacred Literature and Biblical Record, New Series, vii. (London, 1865), “The Departure of my Lady Mary from this World,” p. 153. The Greek original of the treatise was discovered by Tischendorf. This passage was kindly indicated to me by my learned friend Mr. J. Rendel Harris. He writes to me: “In these late Syrian calendars the festivals are simply taken over from the Greek and Roman calendars without any adjustment at all, as a study of the detailed saints’ days shows.”
[52] Johanni Apostoli de transitu Beatae Mariae Virginis Liber: ex recensione et cum interpretatione Maximiliani Engeri (Elberfeldae, 1854), pp. 101, 103. This and the preceding passage are both cited by the late Prof. E. Lucius in his book Die Anfänge des Heiligenkultes in der christlichen Kirche (Tübingen, 1904), pp. 488 sq., 521. From them and from the entries in the Syrian calendars (see the next note), Lucius rightly inferred that the Assumption of the Virgin Mary had been assigned by the Church to the 15th of August with reference to the ripening of the grapes and other fruits, and that the Christian festival replaced an old heathen festival of first-fruits, which must have been held about the same time. But he appears to have overlooked the occurrence of Diana’s festival on the 13th of August.
[53] N. Nilles, Kalendarium Manuale utriusque Ecclesiae Orientalis et Occidentalis² (Innsbruck, 1896–7), i. pp. 249, 480. Professor Nilles compares the blessing of the herbs (Krautweihe), which still takes place in various parts of German-speaking lands on August 15th for the purpose of defeating the charms of witches.
[54] B. Schmidt, Das Volksleben der Neugriechen (Leipsic, 1871), p. 58. My learned friend Dr. W. H. D. Rouse, who is well acquainted with Greece, both ancient and modern, gave me similar information.
[55] Pauly-Wissowa, Real-Encyclop. d. class. Wissenschaften, ii. 1342; Pausanias, vii. 18. 12; Xenophon, Anabasis, v. 3. 12. On the other hand the very sight of the image of Artemis at Pellene was said to render trees barren and to blight the fruits of the earth. See Plutarch, Aratus, 32.
[56] A. Dieterich, “Sommertag,” Archiv für Religionswissenschaft, viii. (1905) Beiheft, pp. 108 sqq., with fig. 2.
[57] Furtwängler, Die antiken Gemmen, iii. 231, with plates XX. 66, XXII. 18, 26, 30, 32, all cited by Mr. A. B. Cook, Classical Review, xvi. (1902) p. 378, note 4. Furtwängler held that these gems portray Diana of Nemi herself.
[58] Catullus, xxxiv. 17 sqq.
[59] G. Pitrè, Spettacoli e Feste popolari Siciliane (Palermo, 1881), pp. 356, 358, 360, 361, 362; G. Finamore, Credenze, Usi e Costumi Abruzzesi (Palermo, 1890), p. 176; G. Amalfi, Tradizioni ed Usi nella peninsola Sorrentina (Palermo, 1890), p. 50.
[60] Olaus Magnus, Historia de Gentium Septentrionalium variis conditionibus, xvi. 9.