欧宝娱乐

This book is primarily two things. On one hand it is a great resource for detail concerning the rites of the Cult of Dionysus. On the other hand it is a look into the mindset of ancient people. Too often, the author claims, we look at old religions through our modern lense. Modern people always need to find a reason for something to exist. Everything has to have a purpose that gives us some advantage in the world.

Yet the author claims this was not the mindset of ancient people. When we endeavor to understand ancient gods, we start with the concept of the god; god of war, of smithing, of agriculture, of love and romance. What we really need to be doing is, according to Otto, is start with the natural phenomena.

One great example; when a woman gives birth she is bringing new life into the world. Yet the action of giving birth is incredibly dangerous, for the woman and the baby. This was something that ancient people were aware of. They were struck by the thin line between life and death in such an important action. Such an observation led to the idea of a god who embodies such a paradox; Dionysus. He is both life and death. In no other god is life so vibrant than the Master of the Vine, who gave wine to humanity. And because of that, in no other god is death so horrible than in Zagreus, the hunter who rends the flesh of his prey.

It is in paradox that gods are born.

Another interesting point is that Dionysus is unlike any of the other Greek gods, who inhabit the summit of Mount Olympus. They exist above humanity, separate from the world and looking down on it. Like Apollo, who is the sun in heaven, they exist in the spiritual world. But not Dionysus. He is a chthonic deity, who exists in the world with us; life and death can be seen everywhere we look (or could, before modernity made life so easy to ignore death).

Apollo is order and discipline, a far flung look into the future and the planning for it. Dionysus is life, the here and now that must be enjoyed because death is always around the corner. That is why Apollo and Dionysus were sometimes housed in the same temple; they are opposites, but essential halves of the same universal truth. You have to plan for the future, but you must also enjoy your time here on earth.