penguin competition

“The Apology of Dionysus”

The Dionysian Mysteries were a ritual which used intoxicants and other trance inducing techniques, such as dance and music, to remove inhibitions and artificial societal constraints, liberating the individual to return to a more natural and primal state. It also afforded a degree of liberation for the marginals of Greek society: women, slaves and foreigners.

In their final phase the Mysteries apparently shifted from a chthonic, primeval orientation to a transcendental, mystical one, with Dionysus altering his nature accordingly (much in the same way as happened in the cult of Shiva). Some see these Mysteries, with their resurrected god and secret knowledge about the afterlife, as the precursor of the Eleusinian Mysteries, Orphic Mysteries, Gnosticism and Early Christianity.

By its nature of a mystery religion reserved for the initiated, most aspects of the Dionysian cult remain unknown and were lost with the Decline of Hellenistic polytheism. Our current knowledge is largely based on descriptions, imagery and comparative cross cultural studies.

Dionysian paraphernalia:

The Kantharos, a drinking cup with large handles, originally the Rhyton, a drinking horn (from a bull), and later a Kylix, or wine goblet; the Thyrsos, a long wand with a pine cone on top, carried by initiates, and those possessed by the god; the Stave, once cast into ground to mark ritual space; the Krater, or mixing bowl, the Flagellum, or scourge; the Minoan Double Axe, once used for sacrificial rites, later replaced by the Greek Kopis, or curved dagger; the Retis, the hunter's net; the Laurel Crown and Cloak (purple robe, or leopard or fawn skin nebix); the Hunting Boots; the Persona or Masks; the Bull Roarer; the Salpinx, a long straight trumpet, the Pan Pipes, Tympanon, Bells and Drums; the Liknon, the sacred basket; with the Fig

Traditional offerings to Dionysos:

Musk, civet, frankincense, storax, ivy, grapes, pine, fig, wine, honey, apples, Indian Hemp, orchis root, thistle, all wild and domestic trees, black diamonds.

Animals sacred to Dionysos:

The Bull and Goat, and their 'enemies' the Panther (or any big cat, after the Greeks colonised part of India Shiva's Tiger sometimes replaced traditional Panthers or Leopards) and the Serpent (probably largely from Sabazius, but also found in North African cults). Also the Fawn / Deer, the Fox, the Wolf, the Bear, the Dolphin, Bees and all Dragons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysian_Mysteries

THE SECRET HISTORY 

personal - charm

I really like the idea of somebody's finger print in the form of a charm, either around the neck, in the pocket, or on a piece of string.   The idea that you have something which represents a part of someone else is nice idea, for it then to 'bring you luck' is something i think i can incorporate into it.  What makes other objects more luck bringing than others?  Im going to have to make the charm out of a material that allows my finger print to be engraved in it, maybe fimo? 
These ones are pretty gross, but you get the idea.

Some examples of charms or modern day amulets. 

amulet

An amulet (from Latin amuletum; earliest extant use in Natural History [Pliny], meaning "an object that protects a person from trouble"), a close cousin of the talisman (from Arabic طلاسم tilasm, ultimately from Greek telesma or from the Greek word "telein" which means "to initiate into the mysteries") consists of any object intended to bring good luck and/or protection to its owner. Potential amulets include: gems or simple stones, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants,animals, etc.; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—(Latin, "go back, Satan"), to repel evilor bad luck.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luck

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charm_bracelet

The wearing of charms may have begun as a form of amulet to ward off evil spirits or bad luck.

In ancient Egypt charms were used for identification and as symbols of faith and luck. Charms also served to identify an individual to the gods in the afterlife. Medieval knights wore charms for protection in battle. Charms also were worn in the Dark Ages to represent family origin, religious and political convictions.

personal

I just came across these painted stones and i just thought they were pretty amazing, i'd like to go back and maybe do something like this at some point.

personal ideas - science museum

Paper amulet in the shape of a black cat, England, 1914-1918

A black cat crosses your path – good luck or bad luck? A soldier used this black cat as a good luck charm during the First World War. It’s an amulet – an object you wear or hold in the belief it has spiritual power to protect you. Why would the soldier need it? His London regiment were based on the Western Front, where conditions in the trenches could seem hopeless. The men had seen friends killed in action, been close to death themselves, and felt they had little control over their survival. Spanish soldiers in the late 1800s wore amulets with the inscription ‘Détente, bala!’ – ‘Stop, bullet!’ But amulets didn’t have to be that specific, just something you could believe in. The soldier felt this black cat could bring him safety from the dangers of the war. How effective was it? Did it make him invincible? It’s unlikely he thought so. If he got wounded, he would probably have accepted the best treatment that medicine could provide. But at the same time, he could put his hope and belief in a protective amulet.

I really like this paper amulet, it looks like someone has taken about 3 seconds to put together the scraps of their sewing box to create this. It also looks like it could of been made today.  I think i want to make my own amulet, but my own interpretation.

Mole's foot amulet, Norfolk, England, 1890-1910

The growing influence of biomedicine in the 1800s did not necessarily replace established forms of treatment based on belief and superstition. What could be referred to as folk medicine – customs that often went back generations – continued to be practised. For example, carrying a mole’s forefoot in a pocket as an amulet to prevent cramp is a medical tradition specific to the East Anglian region of England. The feet were either hacked off a mole or bought from a shop. As an amulet against toothache, moles’ feet have a much longer and wider tradition, being recommended by the Roman writer Pliny in the first century CE. .. ew

Stone amulet 

Soft pitted grey stone carried to protect against toothache, South Devon, England, 1871-1910

The growing influence of biomedicine in the 1800s did not necessarily replace established forms of treatment based on belief and superstition. What could be referred to as folk medicine – customs that often went back generations – continued to be practised. For example, this pitted grey stone on the right was believed to cure toothache. It was hoped that the pain would be transferred from the person to the stone. pictured here with four other amulets against toothache: two large animal teeth  and , a stone and a triple hazelnut 

I find the idea of amulets and lucky charms really interesting, thinking that something made of stone could genuinely bring you good health or luck. 

Wooden mask, Bhutan, 1850-1920

A smiling skull has been carved and painted on to this wooden mask. For centuries, masks like this one have been worn by monks or village elders in Bhutan, a land-locked country in south-east Asia. The masks are worn during ritual dances of saints, princesses, gods and demons at religious festivals or tsechus. The dances commemorate the triumph of Buddhist doctrines over evil. Those who attend the festivals are believed to gain merits and blessings, good karma and good luck.

Albarello drug jar for Sanicle, Italy, 1601-1800

The jar on the right was used to store Sciroppo di Sannicola, Latin for “Syrup of Sanicle”. Sanicle is a herb related to parsley and was mixed with sugar to make a syrup. The plant’s name is Latin for “healthy”. The syrup was taken by the spoonful to heal internal ulcers, especially in the kidneys and bladder. 

Albarello drug jar, Italy, 1720-1790

Drug jars were sometimes decorated with unusual scenes. Elephants were a common feature at royal zoos, but were still considered very exotic and unusual and were clearly the inspiration for the illustration. Albarello vases, with their characteristic hourglass shape and multicoloured decoration, originated in Persia. This shape was developed so that many jars could be put on one shelf yet each still be safely removed by grasping it around the middle. This type of decorated pottery is known as maiolica (or majolica) and is believed to be named after the island of Majorca, where the finest pots of this type were said to be made.

Had a browse at the science museum to give me some ideas.  I liked the idea of re creating my own drug jars.