chalcioicia

CHALCIOI´CIA(χαλκιοίκια), an annual festival, with sacrifices, celebrated at Sparta, in honour of Athena, surnamed Χαλκίοικος, i.e. the goddess of the brazen-house. (Paus. 3.17.3, 10.5.5-Z3; and Goeller ad Thucyd. 1.128, &c.) Young men marched on the occasion in full armour to the temple of the goddess; and the ephors, though not entering the temple, but remaining within its sacred precincts, took part in the sacrifice. (Plb. 4.35.2.)