Η ημέρα του Διός εις το τυπικόν του «παλαιού γάμου» των Μογλενιτών Βλάχων

Abstract

The provisions in the “old marriage” rite of the Moglena Vlachs for the
“day of Zeus” (Joia < Jovis dies) preserve elements of very ancient pan-Hellenic
marriage ritual.
Young wood is cut and brought from the forest and used to heat water in
the hearth, in reference to the anticipated presence of Hera as the bride in the
form of a tree trunk placed on the hearth. Flowering ivy is cut and brought
from the forest and intertwined with vines to make wedding crowns, in reference
to the anticipated presence of Zeus as the bridegroom (I, 1-2).
A marriage song referring to a maiden, who is identified with the vineyard
and has a city in her possession, may be traced back to a hymn to the
goddess Parthenus as the archetypal bride, i.e. the “maiden at the moment of
marriage”, under the local name of Aimopia. This view is based on the conclusions
drawn by the late Professor Georgios Bakalakis from his reading of an
inscription referring to a vineyard of the Goddess Aimopia in the foothills of
Mount Pangaeum, as also on the existence of similar inscriptions linking the
marriage song with a song from Lehovo recorded by the late Professor Stilpon
Kyriakidis (II, 1-3).