This unusual little aryballos (a vase for scented oil) was deposited near the temple of Apollo at Corinth in the early 6th century B.C. The inscription running jaggedly around its body reads ‘Pyrvias leading the dance / to him an olpa’, which is usually interpreted as referencing (and illustrating) competitive dance that might have taken place within the sanctuary to honor the god.
This dance one seems to correspond to a specific one known from surviving literature called the ‘bibasis’, an especially athletic type of ritual performance by young men to the song of the aulos. With this reedy musical accompaniment, the youths hoisted their arms skyward, rising vertically high enough that they could kick their own buttocks at the apex of every jump…presumably making a resounding thwacking noise when the dancers landed (or landed a good butt-kick) in unison.
Scant traces of ancient music and the more entertaining aspects of ritual performance remain – what great fun it is to see a bit of it preserved here…rhythmic, exuberant, full-body movements fit for a crowd.
