By focusing on Rubens’s depiction of Silenus—fleshy, sagging, and deeply human—Meis suggests that "true" gods are those that can suffer and die, rather than untouchable, distant entities. Historical and Personal Echoes

The book isn't just about art; it's a "mesmerizing blend" of personal history and world events:

When Midas captured him and demanded to know what was best for mankind, Silenus replied with a "shrill laugh" that the best thing was never to have been born, and the second best was to die soon.

In Greek mythology, Silenus was the tutor and constant companion of , the god of wine and ecstasy. Often depicted as a fat, lecherous drunk supported by satyrs, Silenus was also a figure of profound, if terrifying, wisdom.

For Nietzsche, the goat—associated with the half-animal satyrs—represented a wild, bucking vitality that predates "civilized" reason.