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The Panathenaea (‘all-Athenian festival') was Athens' most important festival and one of the grandest in the entire Greek world. Except for slaves, all inhabitants of the polis could take part in the festival. This holiday was believed to be an observance of Athena's birthday and honored the goddess as the city's patron divinity: Athena Polias ('Athena of the city'). In 566 BC, at the initiative of Peisistratus, this festival was extended every four years over a number of days with many public events (Great Panathenaea). The procession assembled before dawn at the Dipylon gate in the northern sector of the city. The Parthenon Frieze, some scholars suggest, represents the Panathenaic procession . The procession made its way on the Panathenaic Way through the Agora towards the Acropolis. Some sacrifices were offered on the Areopagus and in front of the temple of Athena Nikê next to the Propylaea. Only Athenian citizens were allowed to pass through the Propylaea and enter the Acropolis. The procession passed the Parthenon and stopped at the great altar of Athena in front of the Erechtheum. Each year a newly woven peplos was dedicated to Athena. Games were held as part of the Panathenaic Games.
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