In Gehennum, martial skills are often taught in the form of a dance, something like the ‘forms’ of oriental martial arts, or like European parade-ground drill. These dances are practised by ephebes, are sometimes incorporated into religious and narrative dance, and form the basis of a competition at women’s games (which replaces the fencing events in men’s games). They are also danced as a means of keeping fit.
Of course, the spear dances and pike dances taught to hoplites are rather dull, and the more flamboyant sword dances, javelin-dances, dagger dances, and mace-and-shield dances of [[peltast]]]s, /makhetes, and past times are preferred as a vehicle for displaying suppleness and prowess.
Copyright © 1991 by Brett Evill. All rights reserved.
