-Æ, (Stephanus); Caryæ,-arum, (Pausanias); a town of Laconia, between Sparta and the borders of Messenia; where stood a temple of Diana, thence called Caryatis, -idis; whose annual festival, called Caryæ,-orum, was celebrated by Spartan virgins with dances. An inhabitant, Caryates, and Caryatis, Caryatides apis, a Laconian bee, (Stephanus).

CARYÆ,-arum, in Ancient Geography, a place in Arcadia, towards the borders of Laconia. Whether from this of Arcadia, or that of Laconia, the columnæ caryatides of Vitruvius and Pliny (which were statues of matrons in stoles or long robes) took the appellation, is disputed.

CARYTES, in antiquity, a festival in honour of Diana; surnamed 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 pastorals or bucolic poetry, which is said to have been the origin of bucolic poetry.