Cordax

Cordax (Latin ) or κόρδαξ ( altgr. ) is the name for a dance obscene character in the ancient comedy.

• 2.1 nature of Cordax
• 2.2 dance for pleasure
• 2.3 cultic significance

Etymology and meaning of the word

Greek

The origin of the ancient Greek word κόρδαξ is not released. It is attributed to the poetic vocabulary. Conceivable, albeit vague, would be the derivation of ( altgr. ) χορδή ( knitting ) that make Cordax is partly regarded as a rope dance in which the dancer clung together on a rope.

Latin

The relevant literature refers of course to the origin of the word from the Greek. Metonymic meaning given the floor cordax as trochee because of its bouncing rhythm. Hence also the phrase cordaces sententiae, which are initially trochaic = tumbling, so then baseless thoughts etc.. Almost unanimously report Cicero ( Cic. orat. 193) and Quintilian (inst Quint.. IX 4, 87) from the fact that Aristotle called the trochee as cordax.

Literary references

Essence of Cordax

It is believed that the Cordax as well as other dances of instruments such as flutes, hand drums, harp, castanets, cymbals, etc. were accompanied. Juvenal speaks in this context of a rattle, which is caused by a type of shards ( Iuv. XI, 172). This undoubtedly plays on a support by castanets or the like. Even Lucian reported by these instruments and further argues that the satyrs had invented this dance ( Lucian salt. 22 & 26).

Dance for fun

Contrary to the assumption that it alone handle for a dance out of the theater being at the Cordax, can the writer Petronius in the story The Banquet of Trimalchio from the novel Satyricon his main character Trimalchio 's wife Fortunata at the organizer's feeding and Sauforgie as best Cordaxtänzerin call ( Petron. LII 8). In Theophrastus there is the comment that only people with carefree character of this dance dance ( Theophr. char. VI, 3).

Johann Gottfried Seume reported in his work, walk to Syracuse in 1802 in Chapter Schott Vienna The Dance of "... the most exuberant, ungezogensten Kordax '... in which ' ... the girls ran away and even stopped the bagpipers. '.

Cultic significance

In Pausanias ' perihegesis ( Paus. VI 22.1 ) we find the comment that the Cordax the goddess Artemis was dedicated. He is said to have originated due to a military victory in her honor in Elis. Therefore, the goddess bears the cultic epithet κόρδαξ.

Archaeological evidence

Karl August Böttiger describes in an essay a figure vases, which probably shows the Cordaxtanz. Unfortunately, it is incomprehensible to which figure refers to Böttiger. However, he says that the actors wear an oversized, red, erect penis and infibulated in this dance masks and pre-tied, what should probably have served for amusement, especially the female audience. Böttiger refers to literary references in Aristophanes ( Aristoph. nub. 530 et seq.)

Further development

Perhaps because of his support by castanets like the Fandango apply as a modern descendant of the Cordax. Also in the Tarantella an offshoot of cordax is seen in places. From literary mentions in Rabelais, Holobolos, Metochites and Kokkinos may conclude that the people danced in the Middle Ages cordax (yet ) and was frowned upon because of his profanity as before.