The Kabeirion of Thebes
The Kabeirion of Thebes, some 5.5 km distant from Thebes in the direction of Levadeia, was a sanctuary where mystery rites were enacted in honour of the god Kabeiros and his son, Pais. The stream flowing through the site, the abundance of water and the wooded surroundings made it an ideal place for the celebration of rites connected with the fertility of the earth and of humans and flocks. Rites of passage marking the transition from childhood to adolescence and adolescence to adulthood seem also to have been held at the Kabeirion. The presence of such rituals accounts for the presence of the toys found in the sanctuary, such as spinning tops, knucklebones, little bells and miniature pots, as well as the large numbers of terracotta figurines of children and youths also found. These were probably votive images offered by those who visited the sanctuary to undergo rites of passage. The scenes of hunting and athletic activities on the vases are thought to allude to trials held during the initiation of the youths. The atmosphere was evidently festive, with much extravagance, as befits activities associated with the god Dionysos, since Kabeiros had the figure and qualities of the god of wine and as sacred pot a specific cup.
