peloria

PELO´RIA(πελώρια), a festival celebrated by the Thessalians, which is compared to the Roman Saturnalia. Its origin was traced to the ancient Pelasgian times. Sacrifices were offered to Zeus Pelorios; and to the splendid banquets any strangers were admitted, prisoners were set free, slaves enjoyed the greatest liberty and were even waited upon by their masters. (Athen. 14. p. 639; cf. Panofka, Abhandl. der Berlin. Akad. 1839, p. 35.)