by Lykeia
Entering into the autumn we promptly arrive, just prior to the sacred mysteries of the Elesinia and the Greater Mystery Program, to another important festival of Apollon: the Boedromia. The festival of Apollon as a god who acts as a savior, coming to the aid of men. This would be appropriate for a god who acts as guide, god of law (that which was first established by Ge/Themis), and purifier that he would be so honored just prior to the autumn mysteries of Demeter.
Naturally the mythic background fits the nature of this festival, as we find Athens beset upon by Amazons to recover their queen. Such can effortlessly viewed as a parallel to the myth of the recovery of Helene or the seeking of Persephone. The Amazons in all their fearsomeness advance upon Athens, into the city, and encamped on the aeropagus, the resting place of the Erinyes in their beneficial form as the Eumenides. Here, just as in Troy where Apollon bore the Aegeus, Apollon sets forth the object of fear to triumph.
The object of fear is an important aspect of the Mysteries. So we find that before the bridge of the initiates, before arriving at the temple of Apollon Daphneios, that they had to confront a fearsome specter arranged by gruesome masks. Such kinds of masks are incidentally are also found at the temple of Artemis Orthia, even as thus gateway would rest between the temples of Artemis and Apollon.
The play Eumenides happens to stress the link between Apollon and the Erinyes to the point of an overlayering between them. Apollon’s highly chthonic , but not solely so, nature and his own dominance over the action of law and the protection of its sanctity is a common thread, just as is the punishment carried out against violators. However, as Apollon represents the evolution of sacred law from the crude vengeance of the Erinyes, we find conflict and complaint about usurping younger gods. It is in this matter that Apollon works against the vengeance of the Amazons that is all destructive by implementing fear, but likely also as keeper of mystic law as he works too as guide of initiates, for which purpose he is the lord of the sacred road and ward of the fearful barrier at the bridge as our lord shepherd stands at the boundary. He, with Artemis, leads us to that boundary where we must confront our fears, and overcome them to progress. We are challenged by him. We may go forth as the Aegeans did at Troy, or retreat as the Amazons did at Athens.
That this is the scene of the action of mystic law we find in the very encampments location as the Eumenides sit at their foundations. The very goddesses who receives by their right a portion of the autumn harvest. The Amazons are dwelling on a mound of fear acting to protect the city, to work against their advancement, and the ill winds of Apollon as fear takes flight driven before him as he shouts Boe. All men shouting Boe.
We vanquish our fear, vanquish the dread of death.
At Boedromia Apollon is seated before us, making us face our fear. We deny the power of fear over us and in jubilation we praise him. For he has aided our souls.
Treasury of Apollon 