Page:Modern Greek folklore and ancient Greek religion - a study in survivals.djvu/170

 evil-doers in the country': but whether he took [Greek: drymious] to be the proper name of some class of demons, or an adjective synonymous with [Greek: kakopoios], does not appear.

But even on the grounds of form alone (which grounds will be considerably strengthened when we come to consider signification), it appears better to derive this group of words from [Greek: drys] or more immediately from [Greek: drymos], 'a coppice'; for in ancient literature mention is made of 'Artemis of the coppice' and 'nymphs of the coppice' ([Greek: Artemis drymonia] and [Greek: drymides nymphai]), of a particular nymph named Drymo , of a [Greek: Zeus drymnios] worshipped in Pamphylia, and of Apollo invoked at Miletus under the title [Greek: drymas]. In the last two instances the title may be supposed to have had reference merely to the surroundings of a particular sanctuary; but in relation to Artemis and the nymphs the epithet clearly suggests their woodland haunts.

In present-day usage the words which we are considering almost universally denote, not nymphs or any other supernatural beings, but the first few days of August, which are observed in a special way. The number of these days varies from three in Sinasos , in Carpathos, and in Syme (an island north of Rhodes), to five in Cythnos and Cyprus , and six in most other places where they are specially observed. There are two rules laid down for this observance, though in some places only one of the two is in force: no tree may be peeled or cut (this is the usual practice for obtaining mastic and resin); and the use of water for washing either the person or clothes is prohibited; neither is it permitted to travel by water during this period. In the interests of personal cleanliness it is unfortunate that the month of August should have been selected for this abstention; by that time even the Greeks find the sea tepid enough to admit of bathing without serious risk of chill, and it is a pity therefore that a penalty should be inflicted upon bathers during the first week of the only month in which ablutions extend beyond the pouring of a small jug of water over the fingers. Howbeit the, [Greek: Hê Sinasos], p. 85.], [Greek: Karpathiaka], p. 189. In Carpathos however the three middle and three last days of August are added.], [Greek: Kythniaka], p. 131.], [Greek: Kypriaka], vol. . p. 710.]