Ustinova Y. Caves and the Ancient Greek Mind Descending Underground in the Search for Ultimate Truth

Oxford University Press, New York, 2009. — 226 p.Caves and the Ancient Greek Mind analyses techniques of searching for ultimate wisdom in ancient Greece. The Greeks perceived mental experiences of exceptional intensity as resulting from divine intervention. They believed that to share in the immortals' knowledge, one had to liberate the soul from the burden of the mortal body by attaining an altered state of consciousness, that is, by merging with a superhuman being or through possession by a deity. These states were often attained by inspired mediums, `impresarios of the gods' - prophets, poets, and sages - who descended into caves or underground chambers. Yulia Ustinova juxtaposes ancient testimonies with the results of modern neuropsychological research. This novel approach enables an examination of religious phenomena not only from the outside, but also from the inside: it penetrates the consciousness of people who were engaged in the vision quest, and demonstrates that the darkness of the caves provided conditions vital for their activities.AbbreviationsCaves and the Greek Quest for the Divine Truth
Inspired Prophecy
Methodology
Cave Experiences and the Human Mind
Altered States of Consciousness
Caves as Mental Images
Human Consciousness in the Cave
Near-Death Experiences
Altered States of Consciousness, Shamanism, and Ancient Greece
Conclusions
Oracles and Caves
Caves of the Nymphs and Pan
Entrances to the Netherworld
Oracles of Underground Dwellers
Apollo Shining in the Dark
The Delphic Adyton: Theories and Facts
Conclusions
Seers and Poets
Sibyls
Blind Seers
Sages and Philosophers
Early Sages
Pythagoras
Parmenides and the Eleatics
Empedocles
Conclusions
Near-Death Experiences, Real and Make-Believe
Chasm in the Mind
Mysteries
Conclusions
Retrospect