His is the Golden Fleece. Divine Minerva was honoured at this time at Her Festival, the Quinquatrus. Victors in contests of music and games were presented with vessels of oil and crowns of olives, grown in Her Grove of Academus. As Pallas Athena, Her Spring Panathenaea was celebrated by a joyful procession bearing her embroidered saffron peplum to the Parthenon, there to be lain upon the statue of the Goddess, and strewn with Spring flowers. In the Panathenaic freize old men and women lead the ritual carrying olive branches of peace, and men in their prime follow with shields and spears.
Foreigners carry little boats and women bear water-pots.
Young men crowned with millet sing hymns to the Goddess, and Virgins carry baskets of sacred objects. All these and ourselves honour the Goddess of a Thousand Works. At the Spring Equinox millions in India still celebrate the ancient Festival of Lights, Huli. The flames of myriad lamps float upon rivers and so bring Fire and Water, Love and Truth into harmony. So be it within ourselves.