Corybantĭca
(
Κορυβαντικά). A festival and mysteries celebrated at
Cnossus in Crete, in commemoration of one Corybas, who, in common with the
Curetes (q.v.), brought up Zeus, and concealed him from his father
Cronus (q.v.) in that
island. Other accounts say that the Corybantes, nine in number, independent of the Curetes,
saved and educated Zeus. A third legend states that Corybas was the father of the Cretan
Apollo who disputed the sovereignty of the island with Zeus. But to which of these three
traditions the festival of the Corybantica owed its origin is uncertain, although the first,
which was current in Crete itself, seems to be best entitled to the honour. All that we know
of the Corybantica is, that the person to be initiated was seated on a throne, and that those
who initiated him formed a circle and danced around him. This part of the solemnity was called
θρόνωσις or
θρονισμός.