Baptae
Baptae, ārum, m., = Βάπται [perh. so called from dyeing their hair; v. Meineke, Com. Fragm. I. p. 119],
- priests of the Thracian, afterwards Athenian, goddess Cotytto, whose festival was celebrated in a very lewd manner, Juv. 2, 92 Schol.; cf. Cotytto.
Baptae, ārum, m. (Βάπται = die Täufer, die ihre Novizen bei der Einweihung mit Wasser taufen), die Bapten, Priester der thrazischen, später athenischen Göttin Cotytto, deren Kultus sie als Orgien mit groben Ausschweifungen begingen, Iuven. 2, 92.
Baptæ, (16) ārum, m. (βάπται), les Baptes, prêtres de Cotytto : Juv. 2, 92.
BAPTAE
BAPTAE(Βαπταί), a society founded by Alcibiades in honour of Cotytto, the Thracian Cybele, so called from the purification connected with initiation. Eupolis satirized its licentious revels in his comedy, the Baptae. Cf. Juven. 2.92: Talia secreta coluerunt orgia taedaCecropiam soliti Baptae lassare Cotytto.
And see Foucart, Des associations religieuses chez les Grecs, pp. 57-60.
[W.M.L]Baptae
(Βαπταί). (1) A name given to the priests of Cotytto, the Greek goddess of lewdness, and derived by some from βάπτω, “to tinge” or “dye,” from their painting their cheeks and blackening their eyelids. See Cotytto.
(2) A comedy of Eupolis (q.v.) in which he assailed the effeminacy and debauchery of his countrymen.