ABSTRACT
Poetic mania is Socrates' third kind of divine madness: And a third kind of possession and madness comes from the Muses. A combination of knowledge of the past and of poetic talents, in other words, of memory and inspired vision, was indispensable for the composition of epic poetry. Musical performances of the poets captivated their audiences, as Homer and Hesiod were proud to state. Plato's Socrates believed that musical communication was transmitted from the Muse to the poets, and thence to the audience, thus allowing even the listeners a part in the divine sparkle initially ignited by the Muses. Aristotle discussed enthousiasmos stimulated by poetry and music, in the theatre and elsewhere, and examined its effects on the souls of the spectators. The traditional and the experiential strand were intertwined and brought about the concept of divinely inspired poet.
