Author Description

"Dionysus in Thrace" concerns the role of psychoactive mushrooms in ancient Greek religion. It brings together an extraordinary team of experts to present key archaeological discoveries and to attempt to place them in their historical, religious, and mythological context. Yes, there were mushroom cults in antiquity, and they were involved with some of the most memorable achievements of the Classical tradition, not only in works for the Theater of Dionysus, but also in the visionary experiences of some of the greatest philosophers and mathematical theorists. In the form of Orphism, a warrior initiation of the ancient Thracians was strengthened in the seventh century by contact with similar rites of the Persians and reinterpreted and given a mystical dimension that assimilated even Judaism and Christianity. Edited by Carl A.P. Ruck. With contributions by Mark A. Hoffman, Evie Marie Holmberg, Stavros Kiotsekoglou, Vassil Markov, Carl A.P. Ruck