which was publicly exhibited at the solemnities of the Gymnopædiæ.
The word _dancing_ must be understood in a larger sense than that
in which it is now employed, and as comprising every variety of
rhythmical, accentuated, conspiring movements, or gesticulations,
or postures of the body, from the slowest to the quickest;[162]
cheironomy, or the decorous and expressive movement of the hands,
being especially practised.
[158] Plato, Legg. vii, p. 803. θύοντα καὶ ᾅδοντα καὶ ὀρχούμενον,
ὥστε τοὺς μὲν θεοὺς ἱλέως αὑτῷ παρασκευάζειν δυνατὸν εἶναι,
etc.: compare p. 799; Maximus Tyr. Diss. xxxvii, 4: Aristophan.
Ran. 950-975; Athenæus, xiv, p. 626; Polyb. iv, 30; Lucian, De
Saltatione, c. 10, 11, 16, 31.
Compare Aristotle (Problem xix, 15) about the primitive character
and subsequent change of the chorus; and the last chapter of the
eighth book of his Politica: also, a striking passage in Plutarch
(De Cupidine Divitiarum, c. 8, p. 527) about the transformation
of the Dionysiac festival at Chæroneia from simplicity to
costliness.
[159] Athenæus, xiv, p. 628; Suidas, vol. iii, p. 715, ed.
Kuster; Plutarch, Instituta Laconica, c. 32,—κωμῳδίας καὶ
τραγῳδίας οὐκ ἠκρόωντο, ὅπως μήτε ἐν σπουδῇ, μήτε ἐν παιδίᾳ,
ἀκούωσι τῶν ἀντιλεγόντων τοῖς νόμοις,—which exactly corresponds
with the ethical view implied in the alleged conversation between
Solon and Thespis (Plutarch, Solon, c. 29: see above, ch. xi,
vol. ii, p. 195), and with Plato, Legg. vii, p. 817.
[160] Xenophon, Agesilaus ii, 17. οἴκαδε ἀπελθὼν εἰς τὰ Ὑακίνθια,
ὅπου ἐτάχθη ὑπὸ τοῦ χοροποιοῦ, τὸν παιᾶνα τῷ θεῷ συνεπετέλει.
[161] Plutarch, Lykurg. c. 14, 16, 21: Athenæus, xiv, pp.
631-632, xv, p. 678; Xenophon, Hellen. vi, 4, 15; De Republic.
Lacedæm. ix, 5; Pindar, Hyporchemata, Fragm. 78, ed. Bergk.
Λάκαινα μὲν παρθένων ἀγέλα.
Also, Alkman, Fragm. 13, ed. Bergk; Antigon. Caryst. Hist. Mirab.
c. 27.
[162] How extensively pantomimic the ancient orchêsis was, may be
seen by the example in Xenophon, Symposion, vii, 5, ix, 3-6, and
Plutarch, Symposion, ix, 15, 2: see K. F. Hermann, Lehrbuch der
gottesdienstlichen Alterthümer der Griechen, ch. 29.
“Sane ut in religionibus saltaretur, hæc ratio est: quod nullam
majores nostri partem corporis esse voluerunt, quæ non sentiret
religionem: nam cantus ad animum, saltatio ad mobilitatem
corporis pertinet.” (Servius ad Virgil. Eclog. v, 73.)
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