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Mythic paradigms and the Platonic life: Becoming a Bacchus in Damascius’ Philosophical History
The fragmentary biographical work by Damascius, known as either the Life of Isidore or Philosophical History, appears to have begun with the myths of the dismemberment of Osiris and Dionysus. These programmatic allusions establish an important theme in the text that followed: ‘becoming a Bacchus’. This, as is clear from Damascius’ Phaedo Commentary, refers to the process of unifying and liberating oneself from the body at the ‘cathartic’ stage in the Neoplatonic scale of virtues. The acquisition of likeness to this specific deity is, therefore, a vital though far from final stage in the progression towards the ultimate goal of late antique Platonic philosophy: ‘becoming like god as far as possible’.
History
Publication title
Journal of Hellenic StudiesVolume
138Pagination
55-66ISSN
0075-4269Department/School
School of HumanitiesPublisher
Soc Promotion Hellenic StudPlace of publication
31-34 Gordon Sq, London, England, Wc1H OppRights statement
Copyright 2018 The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic StudiesRepository Status
- Restricted