Concepts of ecstasy in Euripides’ “Bacchanals” and their interpretation
Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis January 16, 2019 DOI: 10.30674/scripta.67140 (opens in new tab) via DOAJ
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractEuripides' 'Bacchanals' is a key ancient source for understanding ecstatic experience in antiquity, supplemented by vase paintings of Dionysian themes. The play portrays ecstasy through psychological phenomena including optical, acoustic, and olfactory hallucinations, anesthesia, delusions of superhuman strength, and possession. How this depiction is interpreted depends on one's view of religion and its function.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness MDMA |
| Keywords | Experience religion Trance Greece -- antiquities Euripides |
| Key finding | Argues that Euripides' 'Bacchanals' describes ecstatic experience involving hallucinations, anesthesia, delusions of strength, and possession, and that this depiction is open to multiple interpretations based on one's view of religion. |
Abstract
In dealing with ecstasy in antiquity, scholars usually refer to Euripides' "Bacchanals"' as one of the most reliable sources with regard to this phenomenon. This drama can also be supplemented by vase paintings, which to a great extent deal with motives from the circle of Dionysos. We can observe that the ecstatic experience, as depicted by Euripides contains such psychological phenomena as hallucinations, including optical, acoustic and olfactive delusion, anesthesia, delusion as to one's own strength and possession. Euripides' description can be explained in different ways according to the view taken of religion and its function.