Dionysis

The rise of Western civilisation coincides with the development of viticulture. From Dionysos' mysterious birth to our present day metropolis there is a link, symbolically expressed in the adornment of the phallus, the cult of the tower and man's auto-erotic fascination with himself. The need of strong intoxicants is at one and the same time the promise of instant gratification, limitless enjoyment and the spectre of cultural disintegration. As the incarnation of 'suffering man', Dionysos prefigured the advent of Christ. With budding Christianity blood and wine came to be regarded as identical. Today, at the crude inception of relentless barbarism in the midst of a highly rationalised society, we witness the re-emergence of the ancient god of ecstasy and madness. So, dear reader, if you do not want to be torn to pieces by the raging maenads of today's world: join the motley crew making up the procession!