CORYBANTES
CORYBANTES (
κορύβαντες). The
history and explanation of the deities bearing this name, in the early
mythology of Greece, cannot be given in this place, as it would lead us to
enter into historical and mythological questions beyond the limits of this
Dictionary. The Corybantes, of whom we have to speak here, were the
ministers or priests of Rhea or Cybele, the great mother of the gods, who
was worshipped in Phrygia. (See
Dict. of Biogr. and Mythol.,
art. RHEA.) In their solemn festivals they
displayed
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Corybantes and Cybele, with infant Zeus. (Museo
Capitolino.)
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the most extravagant fury in their dances in armour, as well as in
the accompanying music of flutes, cymbals and drums. (
Eur. Ba. 125;
Hor. Carm.
1.16.8;
Ov. Fast. 4.210;
Juv. 5.25;
Mart. 1.71,
10.) Hence
κορυβαντισμὸς was the name given to a disease in which
persons felt as if some great noise was rattling in their ears. (Plat.
Crit. p. 54 D; Hermann,
Gottesdienstl.
Alterth. § 3, 8.) they were subsequently confounded with
the Curetes, who are said to have brought up Zeus in Crete, and concealed
him from his father Cronos. (
Strab. x.
p.470;
Lucr. 2.630;
Verg. G. 4.151,
Aen. 3.131;
Ov. Met. 4.282,
Fast. 4.210.) In the festival of the Corybantica (
κορυβαντικά) celebrated at Cnosus in Crete, the
person to be initiated was seated on a throne, and those who initiated him
formed a circle and danced around him. This part of the solemnity was called
θρόνωσις or
θρονισμός. (Strab.
l.c.; Plat.
Euthydem. p. 277 D; Dion Chrysost.
Orat. xii. p. 387; Proclus,
Theol. Plat.
6.13.) The Corybantes were associated with the mysterious divinities called
Cabeiri. (
Dict. of Biogr. & Myth., art. CABEIRI.）
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