CL_HUM 1060 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Origin Myth, Pentheus, Athamas
14 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
In myth: last of the olympian gods to be born: comes from the east to assert his power and gain worshippers. Inspires ecstasy through wine, music, dance, sex, possession: god of altered state. God of the theatre at athens: theatrical performance originated in athens during festival in honor of dionysos, dionysos is associates with the shedding of everyday identities, actors assumed other identities, audience suspends disbelief. Dionysos"s appearance: typically older, with beard. Sometimes, but not often, not bearded: wearing ivy crown, or grape clusters in hair, wearing skin of wild animal, kantharos. Long stem, wide base and mouth, two handles: androgynous. Dionysos"s attendants: rarely alone; ecstasy is group activity. All groups are in an altered state: wild animals, temporarily tame. Typically depicted in state of arousal: maenads. Staff wound with ivy, topped with pinecones, grapes. Birth and early life of dionysos: son of semele and zeus.
