History of the Peloponnesian War

There had indeed in ancient times been a great gathering at Delos of the Ionians and the inhabitants of the neighbouring islands; and they used to resort to the festival with their wives and children, as the lonians now do to the Ephesian games; and a contest was formerly held there, both gymnastic and musical, and choruses were sent thither by the cities.

The best evidence that the festival was of this character is given by Homer[*](Homer is clearly regarded by Thucydides as the author of the hymn here cited. How definite a personality he was to Thucydides is shown by the words “in which he also mentions himself.”) in the following verses, which are from the hymn to Apollo:[*](προοίμιον,proem or introduction. In connection with epic poems the hymns were called προοίμια, because they were sung before other poems, ie. by the rhapsodists as preludes to their rhapsodies. Schol ἐξ ὕμνου τοὺς γὰρ ὕμνους. προοίμια ἐκάλουν The question has been raised whether the hymn was a prelude to the rhapsodies or was, as e.g. here, in itself a rhapsody. The citations here made by Thucydides are from the Hymn to the Dclian Apollo, 146 ff. and 165 ff.)“At other times, Phoebus, Delos is dearest to thy heart, where the lonians in trailing robes are gathered together with their wives and children in thy street;