Encyclopedia > Koryvandes

  Article Content

Koryvandes

The Koryvandes, also called the Kurbantes (Phrygian), the Curetes, the Galli (Roman), and the Corybantes, are the crested dancers who worship the Phrygian goddess Cybele. They were wild, frenzied priests similar to the satyrs and Maenads who followed Dionysus. Ovid says they were born from rainwater. In the Roman Empire, the Galli castrated themselves to more closely identify with their goddess.

In the legend of Zeus' birth, the Koryvandes clashed their spears and shields to drown out the infant god's cries, and prevent his discovery by his father Cronus.

In this legend, the Koryvandes may have been Cretan vegetation demons, later subsumed into the Greek pantheon.

Alternatives: Corybantes, Korybandes



All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

 
  Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!
 
 
  
  Featured Article
Wheatley Heights, New York

... out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 ...

 
 
 
This page was created in 21.6 ms