DAPHNEPHORIA, a festival held every ninth year at Thebes in Boeotia in honour of Apollo Ismenius or Galaxius. It consisted of a procession in which the chief figure was a boy, of good family and noble appearance, whose father and mother must be alive. Immediately in front of the boy, who was called Daphne phoros ("laurel bearer"), walked one of his nearest relations, car rying an olive branch hung with laurel and flowers and having on the upper end a bronze ball from which hung several smaller balls. Another smaller ball was placed on the middle of the branch or pole, which was then twined round with ribbons.
These balls were said to indicate the sun, stars and moon, while the ribbons referred to the days of the year, being 365 in num ber. Then followed a chorus of maidens carrying suppliant branches and singing a hymn to the god. The Daphnephoros dedicated a bronze tripod in the temple of Apollo. The festival is described by Proclus (in Photius cod. See also A. Mommsen, Feste der Stadt Athen (i898) ; L. R. Farnell, Cults of the Greek States, iv. 284-286.