Cave of Dionysus

We climbed a mountain. The surrounding mist gave way and a clear view of the terrain below became visible the higher and higher we went. Over the course of the trip we covered a lot of different kinds of terrain, everything from the coast of the Aegean to the bustling metropolis of Athens. This however was the most fascinating, a true adventure. Some of the group decided to stay behind while most of us trudged up the mountain, fortunate enough to have modern athletic shoes and a path on which to walk. The ancients would have had quite an ordeal without these modern implementations. The goal was to reach a cave dedicated to the cult of Dionysus.

The cave was well worth the hike. Stalagmites, cold air, and darkness, everything but bats characterized this very real and very uncontrolled place. This was not a tourist site geared towards the masses of visitors; the cave featured no handrails, walkways, or safety nets. A true adventure awaited us. Having never been fond of heights, climbing, or caves in general, I was entering an unknown abyss.

In order to get to the back of the cave, we had to climb. Professor Brice, being the brave leader he is, climbed up first and helped the rest of us up. We were even fortunate enough to have headlamps. Climbing on hands and knees, knowing that one slip could mean a broken leg or worse made the experience even more dramatic. Upon finally climbing then sliding down to the other side, there hardly any ancient relics of the past. The experience and ambience of the cave brought the spirit of Dionysus to life  more than any statue or work of art ever could.