The anthropological implications of Plutarch’s eschatological myths

Abstract

This paper offers a comparative discourse analysis of three eschatological myths authored by Plutarch, with special emphasis on the anthropological implications of the myths and Plutarch’s literary-philosophical ambiguity concerning the relationship between mythos and logos. The myths describe the ecstatic journeus of their heroes, as well as their cosmic visions of the Beyond. The analysis points to Plutarch’s tripartite notion of human identity and his peculiar interpretation of the idea of demons as part of this notion.

Keywords

• myth
• logos
• ecstasy
• identity
• demonology