Sciadephoria

Sciadephoria (σκιαδηφορία). A service performed at Athens by the daughters of the resident aliens (μέτοικοι), who at the Panathenaea carried the parasols of the Athenian maidens (Pollux, vii. 134). The wives of the metoeci on the same occasion carried a water-vessel (see Hydriaphoria), and the aliens themselves vessels full of cakes and other offerings (σκαφηφορία) to the goddess. The duties thus imposed upon the resident aliens and their families were intended to mark them out as a class inferior in dignity to the citizens