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Mythic paradigms and the Platonic life: Becoming a Bacchus in Damascius’ Philosophical History
Citation
Miles, G, Mythic paradigms and the Platonic life: Becoming a Bacchus in Damascius' Philosophical History, Journal of Hellenic Studies, 138 pp. 55-66. ISSN 0075-4269 (2018) [Refereed Article]
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Official URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of...
DOI: doi:10.1017/S0075426918000046
Abstract
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’.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | myth, Bacchus, Damascius, biography, Philosophical History, Life of Isidore, Dionysus |
| Research Division: | Philosophy and Religious Studies |
| Research Group: | History and Philosophy of Specific Fields |
| Research Field: | History of Philosophy |
| Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Group: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Field: | Expanding Knowledge in Philosophy and Religious Studies |
| Author: | Miles, G (Dr Graeme Miles) |
| ID Code: | 129518 |
| Year Published: | 2018 |
| Deposited By: | Office of the School of Humanities |
| Deposited On: | 2018-12-04 |
| Last Modified: | 2018-12-04 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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