“Rheia took care of him and while he was yet a boy, she set him to drive a car drawn by ravening lions. Within that godwelcoming courtyard, the tripping Korybantes would surround Dionysos with their childcherishing dance, and clash their swords, and strike their shields with rebounding steel in alternate movements, to conceal the growing boyhood of Dionysos; and as the boy listened to the fostering noise of the shields he grew up under the care of the Korybantes like his father.”
– Nonnos, Dionysiaka 9.160 ff
“Already the bird of morning was cutting the air with loud cries; already the helmeted bands of desert-haunting Korybantes were beating on their shields in the Knossian dance, and leaping with rhythmic steps, and the oxhides thudded under the blows of the iron as they whirled them about in rivalry, while the double pipe made music, and quickened the dancers with its rollicking tune in time to the bounding steps. Aye, and the trees whispered, the rocks boomed, the forests held jubilee with their intelligent movings and shakings, and the Dryades did sing. Packs of bears joined the dance, skipping and wheeling face to face; lions with a roar from emulous throats mimicked the triumphant cry of the priests of the Kabeiroi, sane in their madness; the reveling pipes rang out a tune to honour of Hekate, divine friend of dogs.”
– Ibid 3.61 ff
Yep, that’s perfect. Who needs shields when you have those terrifying facial expressions?
for sure
I remember seeing The University of Hawaii Warriors do the Hala at a bowl game on TV. Very impressive.
i can imagine
Yes! Are you familiar with these guys?
3:19 and 7:55 for how people are healed by the Calusari as they dance and beat their swords and clubs.
You probably already know about all this but I enjoyed finding out that guys all over the world in different cultures getting together to dance and hit things is…a thing.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C4%83lu%C5%9Fari
Only briefly. But wow, seeing those videos … very inspiring.