The Mounichia or Mounichia ( grc, Μουνίχια) was an ancient
Athenian festival held on the 16th (full moon time) of the month
Mounichion (spring) of Athenian calendar in the honor of
Artemis
In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Artemis (; grc-gre, Ἄρτεμις) is the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature, vegetation, childbirth, care of children, and chastity. She was heavily identified wit ...
''Mounichia''. The surname of the goddess come from the hill of
Munichia
Munichia or Munychia (; el, Μουνιχία or Μουνυχία) is the ancient Greek name for a steep hill ( high) in Piraeus, Greece, known today as Kastella (Καστέλλα). This is a fashionable neighborhood in Piraeus. On the top of ...
, where stood an Artemis’ temple, close to
Piraeus
Piraeus ( ; el, Πειραιάς ; grc, Πειραιεύς ) is a port city within the Athens urban area ("Greater Athens"), in the Attica region of Greece. It is located southwest of Athens' city centre, along the east coast of the Saron ...
and to the site of the
Battle of Salamis. The festival was instituted to commemorate the victory of the Greek fleet over the
Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
ns at Salamis. Cakes adorned all round with burning candles were offered to the goddess. Young girls were dressed up as bears, as for the
Brauronia.
Sources
Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities edited by William Smith (1870
p.769
Festivals in ancient Athens
Festivals of Artemis