APATURIA, in Antiquity, Feasts celebrated by the Athenians in honor of Bacchus. See FEAST. The Word is derived from the Greek ἀπάτη, Fraud.
It is said to have been instituted in memory of a fraudulent Victory, obtained by Aegeus King of Athens, over Xanthus, King of Boeotia, in a single Combat, which they agreed upon, to put an end to a Debate between them relating to the Frontiers of their Countries.
Hence Budaeus calls it Festum Deceptionis, the Feast of Deceit. This Feast lasted four days: The first Day, those of the same Tribe made merry together; and this they called Abeaes.
The second Day, which they called Anarrhyzis, they sacrificed to Jupiter and Minerva.
The third Day, which they called Koureotis, such of their young Men and Maids as were of Age, were admitted into their Tribes.
The fourth Day they called Eady.
Other Authors give a different Etymology of this Feast, from what we have now related: They tell us, that the young Athenians were not admitted into the Tribes on the third Day, until their Fathers had first sworn that they were their own Children; and that till that time they were supposed, in some measure, to be without Fathers; whence the Feast, say they, took its Name.
