Religionshistoriens lys, livsbejaelse og inspirasjon.
Gopala danset grensesprengende på markene. Dionysus knuste grenser gjennom ekstase. Begge viste at livsbejaelse er vei til det «guddommelige».
Dette mønsteret gis snart sitt menneskelige navn.
We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering – these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love – these are what we stay alive for. John Keating/Tom Schulman
Dionysus was the god of the most blessed ecstasy and the most enraptured love. … [He is presented] as the god who comes, the god of epiphany, whose appearance is far more urgent, far more compelling than that of any other god. … He, the nurturer and the god of rapture … «the delight of mortals» … «the god of many joys» … the dancer and ecstatic lover … this god who is the most delightful of all the gods … . Walter F. Otto