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The Babylonians have one most shameful custom. Every woman born in
the country must once in her life go and sit down in the precinct of
Venus, and there consort with a stranger. Many of the wealthier
sort, who are too proud to mix with the others, drive in covered
carriages to the precinct, followed by a goodly train of attendants,
and there take their station. But the larger number seat themselves
within the holy enclosure with wreaths of string about their heads -
and here there is always a great crowd, some coming and others going;
lines of cord mark out paths in all directions the women, and the
strangers pass along them to make their choice. A woman who has once
taken her seat is not allowed to return home till one of the strangers
throws a silver coin into her lap, and takes her with him beyond the
holy ground. When he throws the coin he says these words - "The
goddess Mylitta prosper thee." (Venus is called Mylitta by the
Assyrians.) The silver coin may be of any size; it cannot be
refused, for that is forbidden by the law, since once thrown it is
sacred. The woman goes with the first man who throws her money, and
rejects no one. When she has gone with him, and so satisfied the
goddess, she returns home, and from that time forth no gift however
great will prevail with her. Such of the women as are tall and
beautiful are soon released, but others who are ugly have to stay a
long time before they can fulfil the law. Some have waited three or
four years in the precinct. A custom very much like this is found also
in certain parts of the island of Cyprus.
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