ekecheiria

EKECHEI´RIA(ἐκεχειρία). [HIEROMENIA]

EKECHEI´RIA(ἐκεχειρία). [HIEROMIENIA. ]

(ἐκεχειρία). The “truce of God” (literally, “holding of hands”), observed in Greece at the great festivals which were visited by strangers—e. g. the national games and the Eleusinia in Attica. This peace was proclaimed by heralds throughout Greece, to secure the visitors to the games freedom in passing backwards and forwards and security during the festival. In the case of the Eleusinia the truce lasted one and a half month and ten days. See Gell. i.25.8; and the article Eleusinia.