Dionysus Quote by Walter F. Otto
““The picture of the bacchante who stands motionless and stares into space must have been well known. Catullus is thinking of her when he tells of the abandoned Ariadne, who follows her faithless lover with sorrowing eyes as she stands on the reedy shore ‘like the picture of a maenad.’ Indeed, melancholy silence becomes the sign of women who are possessed by Dionysus. […] Madness dwells in the surge of clanging, shrieking, and pealing sounds, it dwells also in silence. The women who follow Dionysus get their name, maenads, from this madness. Possessed by it, they rush off, whirl madly in circles, or stand still, as if turned to stone.””
About This Quote
Madness and silence both embody the ecstatic possession of women by Dionysus, reflecting inner turmoil.
In simple terms: Madness appears in noise and quiet alike.
Key Takeaway
Recognize both external chaos and internal silence as signs of inner conflict.
Themes
mythology
psychology
ecstasy
Mood
melancholic
mythic
Type
Dionysus:1
Madness:1
Mythology:1
Well known:0
Madness Possessed:0
Possessed Dionysus:0
Dionysus Madness:0
Maenads Madness:0
Follow Dionysus:0
When to use this quote
- rituals
- artistic expression
- personal introspection
Key Concepts
Dionysus
madness
silence
possessed state
Questions to Reflect On
- How does silence convey madness?
- What does the maenad symbolize?
A Different Perspective
Interpretations may vary across cultures.
