Home1797 Edition

CARYATES

Volume 4 · 81 words · 1797 Edition

in antiquity, a festival in honour of Diana named Caryatis, held at Caryum, a city of Laconia. The chief ceremony was a certain dance said to have been invented by Castor and Pollux, and performed by the virgins of the place. During Xerxes's invasion, the Laconians not daring to appear and celebrate the customary solemnity, to prevent incurring the anger of the goddess by such an intermission, the neighbouring swains are said to have assembled and sung pastoral or bucolic poetry.