Abstract This paper discusses the origins of the Apollo-Dionysus duality and discusses its use by the philospher Nietzsche and the psyhologist Jung. The paper explains that the Apollo-Dionysus duality offers a way to gain insight into human nature.
From the Paper "This paper discusses the origins of the Apollo-Dionysus duality and its elaboration by thinkers throughout history. First this paper discusses the meanings bestowed upon Apollo and Dionysus by Greek history and culture. Then the paper discusses Nietzsche's discussion of this dualityand examples of poetry which demonstrate this opposition. Finally the paper discusses the analytic psychologist Carl Jung's theories of the conscious and unconscious which implicitly use this duality to understand the psyche."
Tags: Apollo, Dionysus, Nietzsche, Carl Jung, human nature
Abstract This paper explains that the evolution of theater in Greece may be linked directly to the festivals of Dionysus, the Grecian god of wine and misrule. The author points out that Greek theaters, including the theater of Dionysus, were not free-standing works of architecture, but rather they were built into hills in amphitheater forms. The theaters of Lycurgus replaced the original wood of the Dionysus theater with stone, reaffirming the importance of theater in the city of Athens' civic and religious life, which continued well into Hellenistic times, culminating in the Romans' added changes to the structure and including the addition of the Bema.
Table of Contents
History of Theater in Ancient Greece
Architecture of Greek Theaters
Parodos
Bema of Phaidros
The Central Section
Marble Throne of the Priest of Dionysus Eleutherios and Other Priests' Seats
Skene
The Stoa on the South Side of Skene
From the Paper "The parodos of the Theater of Dionysus was a gangway leading into the orchestra over which chorus and actors made their entrances. There are two parodoi, one on each side of the orchestra. Parodos was also the name of the song chanted by the chorus as they entered the orchestra at the beginning of the play. This is another indication of the fusion of the role of ritual, the role of the chorus, and the role of architecture in early Greek theater."
Abstract This paper describes the birth, parentage and life of the Greek god Dionysus, as well as his importance in ancient Greek society. The paper also describes the festival of Dionysus and the cult of Dionysus.
From the Paper "Dionysus is the son of Zeus and Semele. He is the only god to have a mortal parent. Zeus came to Semele in the night, invisible, felt only as a devine presence. Semele was pleased to be a lover of a god, even though she did not know which one. Word soon got around and Hera quickly assumed who was responsible. Hera went to Semele in disguise and convinced her she should see her lover as he really was. When Zeus next came to her she made him promise to grant her one wish. She went so far as to make him swear on the River Styx that he would grant her
request. Zeus was madly in love and agreed. She then asked him to show her his true form. Zeus, was unhappy, and knew what would happen but, having sworn he had no choice. He appeared in his true form and Semele was instantly burnt to a crisp by the sight of his glory. Zeus did manage to rescue Dionysus and stitched him into his thigh to hold him until he was ready to be born. His birth from Zeus alone conferred immortality upon him.(2)"
Abstract This paper examines the common misinterpretation regarding the ancient Greeks being too civilized a culture to commit human sacrifice. The writer of this brief yet concise paper proves that the Greeks did in fact commit human sacrifices as a major component of their religious beliefs and activities. The Greek's belief in Dionysus, the god of crop fertility, was a significant element in these sacrifices. Dionysus symbolized flesh and blood as bread and wine. An annual worship held in his name was to insure crop fertility. This was a common practice for many societies throughout Ancient Greece, including the Myceneans. The Myceneans were a powerful civilization who sacrificed humans in honor of the Olympian gods and archaeological evidence has been found to back these claims.
From the Paper "The Mycenean civilization practiced this as well as many other forms of human sacrifice: "The burnt offering altar was often used in Mycenean rituals, and became a major form of practice. This form of human sacrifice was used late, almost until the end of the Mycenean civilization. "The burnt offering altar was a large, grill-like structure where prophets placed hot coals. The altar placed on the chest of the strongest warrior in town, the usual subject of this ritual. The sacrifice would be long and grueling, and the victim would not die until the prophets finished their praying to the gods. The Myceneans were a powerful civilization who were mentioned in the Homeric poems. They sacrificed humans in honor of the Olympian gods, and archeological evidence has been found."
Abstract This paper discusses and demonstrates the transitional phase in human development by discussing the history of the mythical legend of Dionysus, and the Bacchic ritual and its rich traditions. The paper then discusses modern manifestations of this ritual as the expression of the spiritual that modern people seek in ways that are not religiously motivated but still boast many of religion's facets.
Outline:
Introduction
Dionysus in the Ancient and Modern Expression
Bacchic Ritual Today
From the Paper "The whole expression of the initial rejection of the Rock-n-Roll culture, music and lifestyle, not to mention its messages of rejection of the broader conservative culture is an example of the manner in which youth demonstrates revolutionary control over subsequent generations. The initial desire of the broader more conservative culture to suppress the movement, and all its expressions was met by heated rejection of conservatism. Many who look back on the beginnings of the movement express that all their fears were realized, through the very public expression of conflict and rage that became synonymous with Rock-n-Roll music and all of its accompanying events, which clearly reached it peak of possibility both good and bad during the Woodstock era. (Altschuler, 2003, p. 3) Yet, it is also clear that the music and the mentality it brought with it changed the face of society, and all that the older more conservative generations could do about it was warn the culture of its potential threats, just as those who drove the Bacchic ritual into the attic in earlier times did."
Abstract A paper about the influence that Dionysus/Bacchus has had on literature, art, and music. The author examines the impact of the myth on various cultures and modern times. Includes illustrations.
From the Paper "The myth of the Olympian god of wine has influenced cultures all the way up to present time. Known as Bacchus by Romans and Dionysus by the Greeks, this god has shown up in art, music, literature, and even in the names of many vineyards and wine cellars. This paper will first recount the myth of Dionysus, discuss his influence on ancient and modern cultures, and provide illustrations".
Abstract The paper analyzes the connections between the ritual calendar of the Romans and the cyclical elements contained in the myths of Demeter and Dionysus. The paper discusses the issue of whether myths or rituals came first and concludes that it is likely that the rituals preceded the myths.
From the Paper "Demeter was the Roman goddess of corn and the earth's fertility. She and Dionysus were considered to be benevolent helpers of mankind. Like many of the Roman gods and goddesses, they were honored and represented by daily activities. Demeter and Dionysus were represented by the acts of breaking bread and drinking wine. Demeter lost her daughter to Hades and Dionysus died with the coming of the cold season. It is not difficult to see the mythological connection to death and the coming of cold in the ancient world. The story of Demeter has many cyclical elements, including the compromise that Demurrer's daughter would spend only a portion of the year on earth. This coincides with the fertility cycles and winter on earth."
Abstract The paper discusses the conflict in the poem, "The Bacchae of Euripides", by Euripides and explains that the conflict is constructed around the opposition between Pentheus and Dionysus which is, in fact, a tool of characterization. The paper relates that the conflict between the two characters arises because both of them want to seize power and to have authority over each other and Thebes.
From the Paper "Pentheus thinks he has caught the stranger and orders the prisoner to be bound and tortured only to find out that it is in fact impossible thanks to the god's powers that the king had refused to acknowledge. Consequently, Dionysus turns into a bull when the king's men try to chain him, and then when the king himself plunges a knife into his prisoner, the latter turns into a shadow and remains unharmed. Nevertheless, Dionysus tries to make Pentheus change his ways but the king cannot be convinced. The women who served Dionysus lived on a mountain where they feasted, danced and sang. When they saw the messenger - disguised as a cowherd - that the king had sent to spy on them, they chase and try to kill him. Although he escapes, his cattle do not, and so, Pentheus' mother who was disguised and had joined the herd is captured by the mad women of Dionysus."
Abstract This paper discusses art masterpieces that not only honored the gods and decorated, but also served as ways for a nation to preserve its history. In particular, the author compares two pieces of art found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "The Outer Coffin of Henettawy" and "The Marble Sarcophagus with the Triumph of Dionysus and the Seasons". The author gives the history of each of these masterpieces and compares the similarities and differences of each piece.
From the Paper "The coffin of Henettawy originated from ancient Egypt, and was roughly from the year 1000 B.C. during the 3rd intermediate period. The coffin was made from wood and decorated with paint (Metropolitan Museum of Art). These coffins were significant during the Egyptian period because they served as the resting place for the human body while the soul was allowed a peaceful transition to the afterlife. It is important to notice that this coffin is not as elaborate of well decorated as many Egyptian coffins of the time. Generally, this suggests that the person buried inside was not as important as either a pharaoh, high priest, or someone else in the upper echelon of society."
Abstract The writer of this paper examines the historic significance of the kylix which is associated with ancient Greek celebrations and feasts. A kylix and its plural kylikes are defined as shallow stemmed two-handled drinking vessels used in ancient Greece. Much thought and attention to detail went into the painting of the interior of kylikes. The representations would be covered with wine and the scenes would be visible only partially, when the wine was tipped back into the mouth and eventually fully exposed when the liquid was consumed. The kylix lent an element of surprise and discovery that was a great source of celebration to the Greeks. This paper details the various contents and representations found on kylikes. Greek revelers thanked Dionysus, the Greek god of religion, for the spirits they were enjoying. For this reason, Dionysus was often the subject depicted on these drinking drinking vessels. Descriptive stories depicted in artistic form on the kylix was common among ancient Greeks. This paper describes several stories depicted on these artistic drinking vessels including that of Apollo and Koronis.
From the Paper "Although Dionysus' divinity is asserted, he is depicted in human form. In this way, the inhabitants of Thebes believe him to be a man while Dionysus allows himself the pleasures of mortal being. Pentheus describes Dionysus in the form of a man: "They say there came a stranger hither, a trickster and a sorcerer, from Lydia's land, with golden hair and perfumed locks, the flush of wine upon his face, and in his eyes each grace that Aphrodite gives; by day and night he lingers in our maidens' company on the plea of teaching Bacchic mysteries." This mortal nature serves two purposes: the disguise of mortal being and the pleasures of mortal being. In The Bacchantes, Euripides' representation of Greek society can be found in Pentheus. Pentheus is the epitome of Greek society: he is rational, cultured, and encourages traditional conventions."
Abstract This paper examines the story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates and seeks to show that, taken allegorically, this story does not speak of temptation to sin but rather speaks of the call to transcend and to become initiated. It attempts to show that this fascinating story is not merely a realistic allegory of growing out of childhood, nor a tragic story of rape and murder, but also a sophisticated modern-day retelling of the coming of Dionysus and the calling of the Maenad. It looks at how Arnold Friend is a type of Dionysus and how his call to Connie parallels the call of the mad god to his Bacchae and to the initiates in his mysteries.
From the Paper "Understanding Arnold Friend as an exemplar of Dionysus opens up far greater insight into the allegorical and mystical elements of this story. Dionysus was widely worshiped in the Greco-Roman world as a savior and an initiator into the mysteries of the self. (Freke & Gandy) He brought madness and death, certainly, but always this chaos was part of "the beauty and horror inextricably tied to the process of Becoming," (Mcginty, 165) and though he was a god of death he was also a god of resurrection who was commonly compared to Jesus by early Christian writers and their pagan contemporaries. (Freke & Gandy) With this in mind, several elements of the story may be re-evaluated. "
Abstract The paper discusses how Plato disagreed with the Athenian oligarchy and saw in Dion a chance to impose his philosopher king, by teaching him the tenants of good governing that he had learned from Socrates. When Dion and Dionysus had a major disagreement, Plato sought to bring the family members into amicable relations. The paper explains that Dionysus II, however, had fooled Plato into coming to Syracuse, essentially confining him there so that he could not correspond with Dion.
From the Paper "Plato is one of western civilizations most important philosophers. He is often cited as being a crucial point in the development of critical and logical thought in the Greek classical milieu and he provides a basis for understanding how one analyzes life through reasoning and dialogue. His birth can tell us much about where he lived and in what type of culture he was raised within: Plato, born in Athens around 427 BC, was considered to be one of the earliest philosophers. He lived during the Age of Synthesis. After his father's death his mother married a friend of Pericles so he was politically connected to both the oligarchy and democracy. After the Peloponnesian War, his mother's brother and uncle tried to persuade him to join the oligarchical rulers of Athens ("Plato's Life" para.1)."
Paper which applies critical theories to the myth. Among those theories, structuralism explains how the story is a persecution myth, and how it fits into the framework of all the persecution myths.
997 words (approx. 4 pages), 1 source, 2000, $ 35.95
From the Paper " While working with the ?Hymn to Dionysus,? it is helpful to utilise critical theories and apply them to the myth. Structuralism explains how the story is a persecution myth, and how it fits into the framework of all the persecution myths surrounding Dionysus, forming a repeating pattern. The structuralist approach to literary analysis involves discerning the overall framework of the myths surrounding Dionysus and discovering where the Hymn fits within this context. The "Hymn to Dionysus" fits into an overall structure of the persecution myths relating to Dionysus struggle to be accepted as a full-fledged god. In addition to the "Hymn to Dionysus" and the story of Thebes, other persecution myths fall into this overall framework of persecution, including the myths of Lycurgas, Minyas, and Proetus. This structure is evident when looking at all the myths together, and the "Hymn to Dionysus" fits into the arrangement as another persecution myth in a series."
Abstract This paper examines the historical evolution and maturation of tragedy in ancient Greece, and the characteristics of a tragic hero. The author focuses on one of the most famous Greek tragedies, Oedipus Rex, and greatly details the story of Oedipus and his tragic flaws. The paper also discusses all elements in an ancient Greek production, such as the prologue, chorus, and exodus.
From the Paper "Oedipus Rex is a story of one man's pursuit for truth. Although Oedipus falls victim to obstacles he is unable to overcome, he encounters these obstacles along his journey to find the truth. In the view of Sophocles, the tragic hero must accept the responsibility for his actions, as does Oedipus in the final scene, regardless of his original motives and inability to control or understand the forces in which rule his life. The plot, Oedipus? search for truth, and the chorus are all contributing factors that make Oedipus Rex the greatest in the history of all Greek tragedies."
Abstract This essay evaluates the authenticity of Euripides, Bacchae as a typical Greek tragedy. Bacchae's structural features are compared to Aristotle's definition of an archetypal tragedy. Also, Bacchae's story plot is analyzed and compared to other authentic Greek Tragedies such as Oedipus Rex and Antigone. Besides analyzing the structure, this essay also correlates the Greek cultural background with the context of Bacchae.
From the Paper "Bacchae, written by Euripides in 5th century, is a Greek tragedy illustrating intricate relationship between human offense and divine revenge. Both shocking and compassion provoking, the play has remained popular for countless years. Having read many Greek plays over the years, I was fascinated by the similarities between Bacchae and other tragedies such as Oedipus, Antigone, and Electra. Striking structural uniformity of these plays made me investigate characteristics of a typical Greek tragedy, and I discovered that Bacchae displays various aspects of classical tragedy. I concluded that Bacchae is an archetypal Greek tragedy because it exhibits a typical story plot, a tragic hero with pitiful downfall, and a moral theme."
