In Lebadeia[1] there was an oracle, which they used to call the Katabasion [Descent]; for it had so narrow an opening that only the extremities of the feet could get in. So those consulting the god, after keeping themselves pure for a specified number of days and having adorned themselves in a particular sacred manner, took in both hands honeycakes, i.e. cakes soaked in honey, and sat at the narrow mouth, whereupon they were suddenly snatched and conveyed underground. The cakes they used to take in order not to be harmed by the snakes they encountered; instead they gave them these as food. Accordingly many people were immediately sent up again from the narrow opening through which they had descended, but many [stayed underground] for several days.[2] Trophonios was the son of Ersinos[2] and brother of Agamedes; [and this place was] where there was a prophesying snake, to which the inhabitants used to throw pastries.