Apollonian and Dionysian: the Life and Fate of a Famous Metaphor

Abstract

The article examines the genesis, development and historical fate of the famous Nietzschean antithesis “Apollonian and Dionysian”. The content and consequences of the discussion on the “Birth of Tragedy” by F. Nietzsche between U. Wilamowitz-Moellendorff and E. Rohde are analyzed. The heuristic potential of this metaphor is evaluated. The author draws attention to the fact that the opposition between the “cult of Apollo” and “the cult of Dionysus” was never practiced in Ancient Greece itself. At the same time, Nietzsche's scheme turned out to be extremely long lived; not only for numerous writers and publicists, but also for scientists of various specializations who used it liberally.