Dionysus, the twice-born god, is set apart from other deities at the onset of his creation. Birthed via his father Zeus’ thigh, Dionysus’ dual nature is demonstrated as both man and animal, male and effeminate, young and old, civilized and chaotic, sacred and obscene. The god whose myths and rituals subvert the normal identities of his followers himself adopts a fluid persona based on illusion, transformation, and the simultaneous presence of opposite traits. However, first and foremost Dionysus is the god of wine and intoxication. From this arises ritual madness (mania). His ability to transcend existential boundaries provides, essentially, an escape from one’s self. How, then, does Dionysus’ ritual madness compare to that of the prophetic
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