Dionysos
Dionysos is our oldest living symbol. First mentioned in texts of the thirteenth century BC, he was for the ancient Greeks the divine embodiment of wine, of mystery-cult, and of the theatre, and even today is valued as a symbol of something fundamental to being human. With the power of his epiphany...
| Main Author: | Seaford, Richard. |
|---|---|
| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
London ; New York :
Routledge,
2006.
|
| Physical Description: |
xii, 158 pages ; 20 cm. |
| Series: |
Gods and heroes of the ancient world.
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| Subjects: |
| Summary: |
Dionysos is our oldest living symbol. First mentioned in texts of the thirteenth century BC, he was for the ancient Greeks the divine embodiment of wine, of mystery-cult, and of the theatre, and even today is valued as a symbol of something fundamental to being human. With the power of his epiphany Dionysos broke down the barriers of individual consciousness, he merged the individual into the group. He did it not only by wine, but also in the transformation of individuals in the theatre, and in the rehearsal of death in mystery-cult. In this way Dionysos could embody the whole community, but could also be a refined philosophical symbol. He was the most serious rival to the spread of Christianity, by which he was not entirely eliminated: his resurgences in Renaissance Italy and nineteenth century Germany are described in the final chapter of this book. Dionysos, a groundbreaking survey of one of the most enduring of Greek gods, provides an excellent reference point for study and will also be of interest to readers in related disciplines. -- from back cover. |
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| Item Description: |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 152-154) and index. Why Dionysos? -- Introducing Dionysos? -- Key themes -- Nature -- Communality -- Epiphany -- Mystery-cult -- Death -- Theatre -- Psychology and philosophy -- Christianity Dionysos afterwards -- After antiquity -- Dionysos and money, then and now. Dionysos is our oldest living symbol. First mentioned in texts of the thirteenth century BC, he was for the ancient Greeks the divine embodiment of wine, of mystery-cult, and of the theatre, and even today is valued as a symbol of something fundamental to being human. With the power of his epiphany Dionysos broke down the barriers of individual consciousness, he merged the individual into the group. He did it not only by wine, but also in the transformation of individuals in the theatre, and in the rehearsal of death in mystery-cult. In this way Dionysos could embody the whole community, but could also be a refined philosophical symbol. He was the most serious rival to the spread of Christianity, by which he was not entirely eliminated: his resurgences in Renaissance Italy and nineteenth century Germany are described in the final chapter of this book. Dionysos, a groundbreaking survey of one of the most enduring of Greek gods, provides an excellent reference point for study and will also be of interest to readers in related disciplines. -- from back cover. |
| Physical Description: |
xii, 158 pages ; 20 cm. |
| Bibliography: |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 152-154) and index. |
| ISBN: |
0415324882 9780415324885 0415324874 9780415324878 0203358015 9780203358016 9781134344505 1134344503 |