Meis argues that the "drunkenness" of Silenus represents a moment when the orderly, rational facade of our world (the Apollonian) cracks, revealing a messy, violent, but undeniably real underlying truth (the Dionysian).
When Midas captured him and demanded to know what was best for mankind, Silenus replied with a "shrill laugh" that the best thing was never to have been born, and the second best was to die soon. The Drunken Silenus On Gods, Goats, and the _s ...
In Greek mythology, Silenus was the tutor and constant companion of , the god of wine and ecstasy. Often depicted as a fat, lecherous drunk supported by satyrs, Silenus was also a figure of profound, if terrifying, wisdom. Meis argues that the "drunkenness" of Silenus represents
The most famous story involving Silenus—recounted in the book—is his encounter with : Often depicted as a fat, lecherous drunk supported
The book's title refers to a famous painting by . Meis uses this image of a bloated, stumbling minor god as a gateway to explore deeper, darker truths about the human condition. Who is the Drunken Silenus?
