The priestess at the temple of Delphi was considered very important in ancient society. Since she was given trances from Apollo, many believed she could interpret dreams and give insight into the future for her visitors and the public as a whole. There are several concepts about the cause of these trances and most of them relate to the concept of petrochemicals or other environmental factors. Other researchers believe that these trances did not occur at all, all of which are supported by research from evidence from the historical site or findings from previous research. These ideas will be discussed throughout to find the true meaning of the trances and if they actually occurred at all.
The temple of Delphi was a very important religious sanctuary to ancient Greek religion. It was located on Mt. Parnassus near the Gulf of Corinth, settled in Mycenaean times in the late Bronze Age. (Cartwright, 2013) Before the name Delphi came along, it was originally called the sanctuary of pytho after the snake which was believed that Apollo killed there. (Cartwright, 2013) For many, Delphi was considered the center of the world because of Greek mythology. The story states that Zeus released two eagles, one to the east and the other to the west, where they met is the point at which Delphi lies. (Cartwright, 2013) This story was represented by a dome-shaped stone that stood outside Apollo’s temple and which also marked the spot where Apollo killed the snake. (Cartwright, 2013)
Another version of how the temple of Delphi was formed stated that there used to be a dragon that lived in a cavern underneath the mountain, described as a slime-scaled monster that was steaming but yet cold of breath. (Eliot, 1962) The myth states that “whoever met her ...
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... of petrochemicals or other environmental factors. Other researchers believe that these trances did not occur at all, all of which are supported by research from evidence from the historical site or findings from previous research. Overall, the evidence given provides support for each area of beliefs, the most common being the cause of the location of the temple of Delphi on major fault lines. There are some interesting myths and facts about the causes of the trances and many are very convincing but it is still unknown what caused them or if they are even true, only time will tell. The research provided over the oracle of Delphi brings light to establish that modern science can eliminate ancient stories. Most importantly, how important it is for researchers to assess a situation or problem with an open mind, who knows what other findings can be rediscovered.
The evidence of Dionysian imagery and its interpretation seems to lead with considerable frequency away from any conception of religious insight and toward the realm of the ordinary. In his book, Carpenter rejects attempts to see Dionysian images as ‘sacred’ and, finding ‘nothing inherently admirable’ about Dionysus, states that depictions of the Dionysian ‘carry...no demands for religious awe’ (Carpenter, 120). But keep in mind that the artists were painting for various customers and were motiva...
Zora Neale Hurston’s short story “Sweat” is about the empowerment of Delia, the main character, as she tries to find herself and overcome her husband’s abusive strong hold. Throughout the story snakes are fervently discussed symbolizing evil and malevolence. Delia is petrified of snakes and her husband uses this to his advantage. Thus the snake in “Sweat” makes biblical references to The Garden of Eden and the Forbidden Fruit and the evil that can be so tempting. Just as Sykes uses the snake in “Sweat” to scare Delia and become powerful, in some way, Satan entered into the body of the serpent to tempt Adam and Eve.The serpent was the instrument the Devil used to do his bidding. At first Delia loathes the idea of even being in the same room
From the ornamented caves of the prehistoric era to the surreal colors of impressionistic paintings, art has always been a medium for conveying human thoughts and emotions. By analyzing this artwork, much can be learned about human history, tendencies, psychology, culture, and the like. For instance, by comparing a sunken relief of Horus—considered to be the Egyptian god of the sky, sun, and war—with the Torso of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, many hidden intricacies of Egyptian and Grecian civilization as well as the motives of the artists themselves can be revealed. Each piece of artwork was created in the same general time period (they are both ancient), composed of different materials, guided by social standards, and composed of a spiritual aura; within these similarities, however, lay a myriad of unique features.
The Altar of Zeus currently is on display in Berlin, Germany for anyone to see and it is assumed that the temple was dedicated to Zeus or its purpose, in addition to being a tribute to the Zeus/the gods, was most used for celebration of the Pergamene people over anyone who opposed them. As Richter explains,
Sels, Nadia. Myth, Mind, and Metaphor: On the Relation of Mythology and Psychoanalysis. n.p. 2011. Web. 25 Mar 2014.
One of the most famous Oracles was in Delphi. The priestess Pythia would sit at the Temple Apollo in Delphi as thousands of people came to see and ask her questions. It was said that she would sit on a
The first part of this paper will explore the mystery-religions, the reasons behind their popularity, and the Hellenistic world in which they grew that began with Alexander the Great. Next, their characteristics and connections first with Judaism and later with Christianity will be more deeply discussed. In the second part it will be shown that the mystery-religions helped to clear the pathway for the Christianization of the Greco-Roman world by men such as Paul the Apostle. Finally, the Emperor Constantine’s role in this story will be mentioned, during whose reign the mystery-religions declined and Christianity became the major religion of Europe and the near east. The paper will conclude with a brief speculation about the significance of these ideas to modern Christianity.
It was the seat of the Delphic oracle, the most famous and most powerful of ancient Greece. The oracle originated in the worship of an earth-goddess, and later legend ascribed it to Gaea. It passed to Apollo; some stories say he won it by killing the Python, others that it descended to him peacefully through Themis and Phoebe. The Delphic oracle was the preeminent shrine of Apollo, but in winter, when Apollo was absent among the Hyperboreans, it was sacred to Dionysus, who was said to be buried there. The oracle was housed in the great temple to Apollo, first built in the 6th cent. B.C. (it was destroyed and rebuilt at least twice). The oracular messages were spoken by a priestess seated on a golden tripod, who uttered sounds in a frenzied trance; they were interpreted to the questioner by a priest, who usually spoke in verse. Delphi was unique in its universal position in the otherwise...
The depiction of the Greek and roman myths are given unique insights from different authors. The Hymn to Demeter and Ovid's Metamorphosis provide and insight to Demeter's love for her daughter, Persephone, and explores its affect on the surrounding environments. The theme of separation and isolation is present in both of these myths, however, in Ovid's Metamorphosis, he symbolizes the environment in important events, has characters playing different roles, and empowers female deities.
...rophesy in ancient Greece and Rome are great in all that they do. These signs were part of the ancient religion at the time and still have enduring influences today. Through looking at literature and traditions at this time, and understanding can be reached on how these omens ruled their lives. Though these omens may have come from a very similar religion, the governments treated these prophesies in different ways. In Greece omens were opposed by many government leaders, because these leaders were trying to keep religion and government separate. In Rome, however, the government was created by omens and the region was connected to government throughout its existence. Thus omens and prophesies have greatly influenced the citizens and government in these ancient civilizations and prove that the effects of these omens are evident in all aspects of life during this time.
In protohistoric times, the worshipers of the gods sought out mystic union with their deities by means of bodily mortification and ingestion of hallucinogenic drugs. These practices are spelled out both in the Rig Veda of India and the Chinese Book of Songs. In the Veda, Indra is worshiped in a ritual that includes large doses of soma. The Book of Songs, compiled by Confucius from the many texts of poetry and myth at his disposal, contains repeated accounts of trance and religious ekstasis. In the twenty-second chapter of St. John's Revelation, the Koine Greek term translated as sorcerers in the King James Bible is pharmakeusin Literally, this word denotes those who use drugs to achieve arcane effects. Since plants were the mainstay of medical science in those distant days, a secondary meaning might be applied: herbalists. Robin Fox, in his book Pagans and Christians, argues that the role of such figures as the Sybil of Cumae and the Delphic prophetess ...
Ancient Greek mythology has made its way into public conscience and knowledge. So much so that any person on the street would be able to name at least one deity from their pantheon. From this public knowledge, much is known about the religions including its stories and mythologies. But less is known about a person’s role in Ancient Greek religion and even less about a woman roles in their religion. What roles the Ancient Greek people did play can be gathered from the Greek stories and myths. But more specifically what roles did Ancient Greek women play in their religion. The Ancient Greek myths and stories tell of priestess and women who remained virgins as a way of worshipping their gods. But more questions come from these, why did these women become priestess and what rituals did they perform? Both the reasons behind these motives and the process one goes through to become a priestess must be explored to better a woman’s role in Ancient Greek religion.
The History of Trance and Its Evolution 'Let me start by giving a quick historical rundown of trance and how
“Dragons. Four fully grown, enormous, vicious-looking dragons were rearing on their hind legs inside an enclosure fenced with thick planks of wood, roaring and snorting- torrents of fire were shooting into the dark sky from their open, fanged mouths, fifty feet above the ground on their outstretched necks.” (p286)
The poetry of Sylvia Plath can be interpreted psychoanalytically. Sigmund Freud believed that the majority of all art was a controlled expression of the unconscious. However, this does not mean that the creation of art is effortless; on the contrary it requires a high degree of sophistication. Works of art like dreams have both a manifest content (what is on the surface) and latent content (the true meaning). Both dreams and art use symbolism and metaphor and thus need to be interpreted to understand the latent content. It is important to maintain that analyzing Plaths poetry is not the same as analyzing Plath; her works stand by themselves and create their own fictional world. In the poems Lady Lazarus, Daddy and Electra on Azalea Path the psychoanalytic motifs of sadomasochism, regression and oral fixation, reperesnet the desire to return to the incestuous love object.