Final answer:
The Koryphaios of Women would have led the Chorus of Old Women in ritualistic activities such as ecstatic dances, singing, and maybe spiritual possession, providing a break from daily life, especially for middle and upper-class women.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Koryphaios of Women, a leader figure in ancient Greek theatre and ritual, would have likely led the Chorus of Old Women in various ritualistic activities, including ecstatic dances and the chanting of hymns, as was customary in religious ceremonies dedicated to deities such as Dionysos.
Specifically, in the context of Korybantic rites and Mysteries, women played significant roles, partaking in rituals that likely involved ecstatic movement and perhaps even a form of spiritual possession as theorized by the French classicist Henri Jeanmaire. The Korybantic rites were associated with madness, and in the literary and historical texts, they were thought to offer a reprieve from daily life, possibly allowing participants, especially women from the middle and upper classes, to escape the mundane aspects of domesticity.
It is mentioned that in some rituals, women would celebrate with a feast and drink wine, activities that were usually restricted. The Korybantic Mysteries involved both men and women, where rituals would include ablutions, sacrifices, and the use of instruments like cymbals and tambourines, hinting at their excited nature. While the exact actions of the Koryphaios of Women are not detailed, based on the general descriptions of these rites, they would be leading the chorus in whichever ceremonies were prescribed, which would be rich with religious and cultural symbolism.