Sign-In
Cart
Divine Mania: Alteration of Consciousness in Ancient Greece
Hardcover
ISBN13: 9781138298118
Publisher: Routledge
Published: Oct 19 2017
Pages: 396
Weight: 1.55
Height: 1.00 Width: 6.30 Depth: 9.40
Language: English
'Our greatest blessings come to us by way of mania, provided it is given us by divine gift, ' - says Socrates in Plato's Phaedrus. Certain forms of alteration of consciousness, considered to be inspired by supernatural forces, were actively sought in ancient Greece. Divine mania comprises a fascinating array of diverse experiences: numerous initiates underwent some kind of alteration of consciousness during mystery rites; sacred officials and inquirers attained revelations in major oracular centres; possession states were actively sought; finally, some thinkers, such as Pythagoras and Socrates, probably practiced manipulation of consciousness. These experiences, which could be voluntary or involuntary, intense or mild, were interpreted as an invasive divine power within one's mind, or illumination granted by a super-human being.
Greece was unique in its attitude to alteration of consciousness. From the perspective of individual and public freedom, the prominent position of the divine mania in Greek society reflects its acceptance of the inborn human proclivity to experience alteration of consciousness, interpreted in positive terms as god-sent. These mental states were treated with cautious respect, and in contrast to the majority of complex societies, ancient and modern, were never suppressed or pushed to the cultural and social periphery.
Also in
Ancient History General
The Power of Place: Rulers and Their Palaces, Landscapes, Cities, and Holy Places
Rollason, David
Hardcover
The Golden Thread: A History of the Western Tradition, Volume I: The Ancient World and Christendom
Hankins, James
Guelzo, Allen C.
Hardcover
Story of the World, Vol. 1: History for the Classical Child: Ancient Times
Bauer, Susan Wise
Paperback
The Far Edges of the Known World: Life Beyond the Borders of Ancient Civilization
Rees, Owen
Hardcover
The Fall of Republics: A History from Ancient Carthage to the American Constitution
Madden, Thomas F.
Hardcover
The Mesopotamian Riddle: An Archaeologist, a Soldier, a Clergyman, and the Race to Decipher the World's Oldest Writing
Hammer, Joshua
Paperback
Fiber Craft Heritage: Easy-To-Learn Textile Techniques from the Stone Age to Today, with 52 Try-It Projects
Fischer, Doris
Hardcover
The Shortest History of the Dinosaurs: The 230-Million-Year Story of Their Time on Earth
Black, Riley
Paperback
A Brief History of Japan: Samurai, Shogun and Zen: The Extraordinary Story of the Land of the Rising Sun
Clements, Jonathan
Paperback
Stone Lands: A Journey of Darkness and Light Through Britain's Ancient Places
Robertson, Fiona
Hardcover
The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of the Modern World
Wisnom, Selena
Hardcover
Death by Astonishment: Confronting the Mystery of the World's Strangest Drug (the Dmt Book)
Gallimore, Andrew R.
Hardcover
Big Dinosaur Coloring Book: Dinosaur Gifts for 3 Year Olds - Paperback Coloring to
Coloring Funny, Family
Paperback
The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome
Bauer, Susan Wise
Hardcover
The Political and Strategic History of the World, Vol I: From Antiquity to the Caesars, 14 A.D.
Black, Conrad
Hardcover
The Secret World of Denisovans: The Epic Story of the Ancient Cousins to Sapiens and Neanderthals
Condemi, Silvana
Savatier, François
Hardcover
Stories of the Stones: Imagining Prehistory in Britain, Ireland and Brittany
Robichaud, Paul
Hardcover
The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World
Anthony, David W.
Paperback
The Mesopotamian Riddle: An Archaeologist, a Soldier, a Clergyman, and the Race to Decipher the World's Oldest Writing
Hammer, Joshua
Hardcover
Impossible Monsters: Dinosaurs, Darwin, and the Battle Between Science and Religion
Taylor, Michael
Paperback
Mothers of Invention: A History of Creativity from the Greek Muses (Large Print Edition)
McTier, Moiya
Paperback
The Political and Strategic History of the World, Vol I: From Antiquity to the Caesars, 14 A.D.
Black, Conrad
Paperback
Magicians of the Gods: Updated and Expanded Edition - Sequel to the International Bestseller Fingerprints of the Gods
Hancock, Graham
Paperback
The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of the Modern World
Wisnom, Selena
Paperback
World History: A Visual Journey From The Dawn Of Civilization To The 21st Century
Alive, History Brought
Paperback
Japanese Legends: Samurai, Spirits, Myths & the Sacred Stories of Japan
Alive, History Brought
Hardcover
The Secret World of Denisovans: The Epic Story of the Ancient Cousins to Sapiens and Neanderthals
Savatier, François
Condemi, Silvana
Paperback
Road to Valor: A True Story of WWII Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation
McConnon, Aili
McConnon, Andres
Paperback
Christians Reading Classics: An Introduction to Greco-Roman Classics from Homer to Boethius
Williams, Nadya
Paperback
The First Fossil Hunters: Dinosaurs, Mammoths, and Myth in Greek and Roman Times
Mayor, Adrienne
Paperback
Mesoamerican History: A Captivating Guide to Four Ancient Civilizations that Existed in Mexico - The Olmec, Zapotec, Maya and Aztec Civilization
History, Captivating
Hardcover
Celtic History and Mythology Explained: Ancient Legends, Heroic Tales, and the Battles that Forged a People
Torbert, Sidney K.
Paperback
Nineveh and Its Remains: With an account of a visit to the Chaldæan Christians of Kurdistan, and the Yezidis, or devil-worshippers; and an enqu
Layard, Austen Henry
Paperback
An Illustrated Guide to Samurai History and Culture: From the Age of Musashi to Contemporary Pop Culture
Blair, Gavin
Hardcover
In Search of Ancient Ireland: The Origins of the Irish from Neolithic Times to the Coming of the English
McCaffrey, Carmel
Eaton, Leo
Paperback
The Codes of Hammurabi and Moses with Copious Comments, Index, and Bible References
W. W. Davies Ph. D.
W. W. Davies Ph. D., Ph. D.
Paperback
The Ethiopian Bible History: oldest and most complete known book in the world (Canons and Books)
Benedict, Beauty
Paperback
Mythology of Mesopotamia: Fascinating Insights, Myths, Stories & History From The World's Most Ancient Civilization. Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, P
Brought Alive, History
Hardcover
Mythology of Mesopotamia: Fascinating Insights, Myths, Stories & History From The World's Most Ancient Civilization. Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, P
Brought Alive, History
Paperback
The Stoicism Book of Quotes: Over 200 Inspirational Quotations from the Greatest Stoic Philosophers
Yasenka, Kortney
Benas, Nick
Hardcover
The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World
Anthony, David W.
Paperback
The Aztec Empire: An Enthralling Overview of the History of the Aztecs, Starting with the Settlement in the Valley of Mexico
History, Enthralling
Hardcover
...and forgive them their debts: Lending, Foreclosure and Redemption From Bronze Age Finance to the Jubilee Year
Hudson, Michael
Paperback
Foundations of Chinese Civilization: The Yellow Emperor to the Han Dynasty (2697 BCE - 220 CE)
Liu, Jing
Paperback
1st Century Radical: The Shadowy Origins of the Man who Became Known as Jesus Christ
Jacques, Michael Calum
Paperback
Celtic Mythology: A Complete Guide to Celtic Mythology, Celtic Gods, and Celtic Folklore
Walsh, Andrew
Hardcover
Popol Vuh: The Sacred Book of the Ancient Quiche Maya Volume 29
Morley, Sylvanus G.
Goetz, Delia
Paperback
Tokyo: A Biography: Disasters, Destruction and Renewal: The Story of an Indomitable City
Mansfield, Stephen
Paperback
When God Had a Wife: The Fall and Rise of the Sacred Feminine in the Judeo-Christian Tradition
Prince, Clive
Picknett, Lynn
Paperback
...and Forgive Them Their Debts: Lending, Foreclosure and Redemption from Bronze Age Finance to the Jubilee Year
Hudson, Michael
Hardcover
Return of the Fallen Ones: Nephilim Histories, the Antediluvian World, Anunnaki Chronology and the Coming Cataclysm
Breshears, Jason M.
Paperback
Ancient Warfare Illustrated Atlas: Strategies, Tactics & Combat Skills
Rice, Rob S.
Jestice, Phyllis G.
Anglim, Simon
Hardcover
Christian Paideia (Vol. I): A History of Christian Education to 500 AD (From Athens to the Church Fathers)
Welter, Brian
Paperback
Impossible Monsters: Dinosaurs, Darwin, and the Battle Between Science and Religion
Taylor, Michael
Hardcover
The Ancient's Book of Magic: Containing Secret Records of the Procedure and Practice of the Ancient Masters and Adepts 1940
de Claremont, Lewis
Paperback