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Canicular Period
(Acute Phase: July 19-27)
| Conditions | Description | Ancient testimonia | Modern equivalent data |
| Astronomical | Sirius rises on July 19, visible by day; mid-point of solar year; earth and sun in greatest proximity | Hes. WD 582-588 | Same conditions |
| Meteorological | Imbalance of dry and wet: drought; cool northerly winds intensify around July 19 lasting for some 40 days; sea turbulent | Hes. WD. 582 f.; A.R. 2.516-524, etc. ἐτησίαι αὖραι; cf. West on WD 663; A.R. 2.524-527 Arist. HA 600a3 f.; Pliny Nat. 2.107 | Same conditions; see immed. below The meltemi intensifies after the feast of St. Elias |
| Botanical-agricultural | σκόλυμος blooms Grapes begin to ripen Drought withers trees, plants, and crops |
Hes. WD 582 Hes. Shield of Herakles 396-399 ἀστροβλησία (‘star-blight’): Thphr. CP 5.9.4; HP 4.14.2, etc.; cf. sideratio: Pliny Nat. 17.218, 22 |
Cf. MG σκόλυμπρος, ἀσπράγχαθα Cf. the proverb τῆς Ἁγίας Μαρίνας σύκου τσὶ τ᾽ Ἁγιοῦ Λιᾶ σταφύλ ἡ Ἁγία Μαρίνα μαραίνει τοὺς γεωργοὺς καὶ τὰ χωράγια: a folk warning to those who work on her feast |
| Physiological-medical | Men’s skin is dried up Most men dry up, but women flourish Fever, sunstroke Paralysis of human beings and animals |
Hes. WD 588 Hp. Aër.10.85 f. (L.) IL. 22.3; Hp. Aph. 21 (L.): πυρετοὶ ξυνεχέες; Sor. 1. 124: σειρίασις; siriasis afflicts children: Pliny Nat. 22.59, etc. Scrib. Larg. 101; Hippiatr. 52 A.R. 2.519 |
Cf. Avdemi songs Cf. Avdemi songs Cf. Avdemi (group III) Cf. Avdemi songs (group III) |
| Sexual | Asymmetrical relations between male and female: men are impotent, women are ardent | Hes. WD 586-587; Hp. Aph. 21 (L.): putrefaction of genitals in the summer; (pseudo?-) Arist. Pr. 4.25.879a26-35; Pliny Nat. 22.86 | Avdemi songs; in Petrochori male harvesters regard sexual relations with their wives ill-omened; cf. the proverb Τὸν Ἰούλη κὶ οἱ γριές κάνουνε ξετσιπωσιές |
| Social-religious | Separation of sexes (?)
Women celebrate the Adonia [εἰρεσιωνη-song performed by boys at Thargelia in connection with the offering of the first bread crop in May] |
Cf. Winkler 1990. 202f.carm. pop. 2 (Diehl ii), w. Burkert 1985 [1977]. 83
Burkert 1985 [1977]. 231-232; West on Th. 137. |
Month-long migration of male reapers in eastern Thrace νυχτέρια and other female “assemblies” (focus on male inadequacy?) The ‘song of the cicada,’ often sung by children, accompanies the offering of the first bread of the crop (‘cicada cake’) in June-July |