[Deakin describes the horse races held in the hill town of Aghia Paraskevi on the island of Lesbos]

The proceedings had begun with the entrance to Paraskevi of a procession carrying an icon of the Black Virgin from a shrine outside the town, said to be ancient and possibly Dionysian, to bless the horses.  It was carried by a small boy, accompanied by the mayor, the priest, and a three-piece town band of trumpet, clarinet and gourd hand-drum.