Elaphebolion

We are in the month of Elaphebolion, the ninth month of the ancient Attic calendar, which roughly corresponds to March/April in our modern Gregorian calendar. This month is dedicated to Artemis Elaphebolos—the Deer-Slayer—
in honour of her roles as a huntress, guardian of wildlife, and protector of both the city and the wilderness. One of the highlights of this month is the festival of Elaphebolia. This year, the festival falls on March 6th.

Elaphebolia was primarily observed in Phocis and Athens, and aligned with the natural transition from winter to spring—a time of renewal and growth. Central to the festival were offerings and rituals honouring Artemis as a huntress and the protector of wild animals—especially the deer, her sacred animal.

A significant part of the celebration involved the preparation of special cakes called “elaphoi,” shaped like deer and made from flour, honey, and sesame seeds. These cakes served as symbolic offerings, especially in cases where a deer could not be sacrificed, allowing all members of the community to participate.

The festival likely featured processions, prayers, libations of wine and honey, music, and dancing. These acts sought Artemis’s favour for a successful hunting season and her protection over the city and its inhabitants. Elaphebolia beautifully captures Artemis’s dual role as a guardian of the wild and a protector of the city.

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Sources and further reading:
Burkert, W. Homo Necans: The Anthropology of Ancient Greek Sacrificial Ritual and Myth. [Homo necans: Interpretations of Ancient Greek Sacrificial Rituals and Myths, Berlin 1972], University of California Press, 1983.

Larson, J. “Venison for Artemis? The Problem of Deer Sacrifice.” In Animal Sacrifice in the Ancient Greek World, edited by S. Hitch and I. Rutherford, Cambridge University Press, 2017, pp. 48–62.

Simon, E. Festivals of Attica: An Archaeological Commentary. Madison, 1983.
Bevan, E. Representations of Animals in Sanctuaries of Artemis and Other Olympian Deities. Edinburgh, 1985.