CLAS104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Euripides, Pentheus, Pan Flute
25 Apr 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Dionysus: attributes: drinking cup, ivy wreath/grape vines, thyrsus, leopard/panther. Thyrsus pine cone at the end of a stick, wheeled by ladies. He is also a fertility god: freedom, esp. from inhibitions. Freedom of inhibition related to his role with wine: mysteries: associated with death and rebirth. Mystery religion tend to be a private thing: incoming god. Two interpretations: historical: dionysus was a late, imported god. God on the outside that is not worshipped. Comes to thieves, people either receive or reject him. Dionysus eastern god that became important later on to the greeks. Found dionysus" name in the linear b text, adopted in the mycenaean period: psychological/cultural: he represented an uncomfortable aspect of greek culture. Greeks worshipped him but found it uncomfortable because he was wild and irrational (they liked rationality) Seen as an outsider: immanent god, he lives among humans, he lives within humans. Always running around the country side, interaction with people.
