Sometimes it is unclear where the myth ends and the allegory begins

Written by thehouseofvines

Sometimes it is unclear where the myth ends and the allegory begins, and this is because to the Neoplatonists there is no distinction: it is not that Zeus represents the Demiurge, but that Zeus is the Demiurge. In this way, the Neoplatonic worldview is quite different from that of modern scholars who tend to separate myth from interpretation, ritual from philosophy; but the fact that the ancients do not separate these is the very key to understanding the Neoplatonic universe. (Dwayne Meisner, Zeus the Head Zeus the Middle- Studies in the Orphic Theogonies)

4 thoughts on “Sometimes it is unclear where the myth ends and the allegory begins”

  1. People saying that Zeus REPRESENTS the Demiurge rather than BEING the Demiurge is a slap in the face of the Gods and to us, to be honest. It’s like people don’t get this was a religion at one point! I’m sorry but is it really that big of a stretch that Zeus is maybe a little deeper than “Haha Swan Daddy go brrrr!”? Seriously. Fuck these people.

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    1. Well, people tend to get out of the myths and their associated literature proportionate to what they bring to their reading of the material. So someone who is patient, studious, reflective, and respectful will discover the deepest of mysteries there as the ancient commentators so often did – but those who are superficial, mocking, dismissive and quick to find faults perceive only empty burlesques as moderns so often do. It’s not that the content miraculously changes, just that one set of readers lacks the capacity to perceive anything of true and lasting value in the material because they don’t have it in themselves to see or properly understand what lies so evidently before their eyes.

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  2. “People tend to get out of the myths … proportionate to what they bring to their reading of the material.” THIS. right here, is so true.

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  3. Reblogged this on Gangleri's Grove and commented:
    Sannion is so, so, so incredibly right when he writes in the comments here:

    “Well, people tend to get out of the myths and their associated literature proportionate to what they bring to their reading of the material. So someone who is patient, studious, reflective, and respectful will discover the deepest of mysteries there as the ancient commentators so often did – but those who are superficial, mocking, dismissive and quick to find faults perceive only empty burlesques as moderns so often do. It’s not that the content miraculously changes, just that one set of readers lacks the capacity to perceive anything of true and lasting value in the material because they don’t have it in themselves to see or properly understand what lies so evidently before their eyes.”

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