File:Greek mythology systematized (1880) (14559787387).jpg

Identifier: greekmythologysy00scul (find matches)
Title: Greek mythology systematized
Year: 1880 (1880s)
Authors: Scull, Sarah Amelia
Subjects: Mythology, Greek Emblems
Publisher: Philadelphia : Porter & Coates
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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inspiration to a new activity that may be noble. Thesimpler and material side of this myth has to do withthe culture of the vine and the festivals connected there-with. The other and profounder side looks towardsolemn themes—the power of the material over theimmaterial Nature, and mans influence over man. Perhaps no one has stated more finely than has K.O. Miillerwhat might be called the relations of the wine-god to Nature. That author says that Dionysus is apersonification of earth-life as producing fruits whosejuices are potent for inspiration or for intoxication ac-cording to the use made of them. The vine was notthe only, but the most perfect, expression of this earth-life ; and as the new force that appeared in the graperesulted from the combined effects of earth-moistureand sun-heat, it waxed more and more potent fromspring to vintage; but since it shared in the generaltorpor of winter, we may think of the growth, fruitage,and decay of the vine as expressing the life of Nature
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200 GREEK MYTHOLOGY. in what might be called the rejoicing and the sorrow-ing of vegetation. We shall find that in the first stage of the Greekdevelopment of the idea and worship of Dionysus hewas received not alone as the giver of the enliveningwine, but the ^ift of the wine jwas considered as a pledgeof the presence and the companionship of the god him-self; and as the wine gave physical animation andstrength, so the belief in the nearness and the gentle-ness of the god infused into the hearts of his worship-pers a noble ambition and courage as welj^as^^enial,kindly feelings toward each other. Had the Greeksretained this ideal, it mlgHFTiave been a refining power;but, failing to ambody in daily life its better teachings,those teachings grew dim ; so the ceremonies of thevintage-festival, like the pleasures of the banquet-hall,sank to the level of mere gratification of sense. On theother hand, instead of the ambition and courage thatwould have directed to right living, there graduall

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