sthenia

STHE´NIA(σθένια), a festival with contests celebrated by the Argives in honour of Zeus surnamed Sthenius, who had an altar consisting of a large rock in the neighbourhood of Hermione (Hesych. s. v. Σθένια: compare Paus. 2.32.7; 34.6-Z2). Plutarch (de Mus. p. 1140 c) states that the πάλη or wrestling, which formed a part of the contests at this festival, was accompanied by the flute; and he also mentions a tradition according to which the festival had originally been held in honour of Danaus, and that it was afterwards consecrated to Zeus Sthenius.