Cotyttia

Cotyttia was a nocturnal festival held in ancient Thrace in honor of the goddess Cotys (also known as Cotyto). The rites were characterized by ecstatic and often orgiastic celebrations, involving frenzied dancing, music, and ritualistic behaviors. Information about the exact details of the rites is fragmented and often comes from sources critical of the cult, making it difficult to reconstruct a complete picture of the festival. The secrecy surrounding the Cotyttia contributed to its reputation for wild and uncontrolled revelry. The festival's association with nocturnal activity and unrestrained emotions led to its condemnation by some as immoral and decadent. The cult of Cotys and the associated festival eventually spread from Thrace into other parts of the ancient Greek world, including Corinth and Athens, though its practices were sometimes modified or suppressed.