Apollonian
[ap-ə-LOH-nee-ən]
Part of speech: adjective
Origin: Greek, 17th century
1.
(Greek mythology) Relating to the god Apollo.
2.
Relating to the rational, ordered, and self-disciplined aspects of human nature.
Examples of Apollonian in a sentence
"Our roommate Brad had Apollonian tendencies toward keeping our house well ordered and harmonious."
"Former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, father of Canada’s current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, was known for his Apollonian slogan, “Reason over passion.”"
About Apollonian
“Apollonian” refers to the ancient Greek god Apollo, the god of the sun who was associated with reason and logic.
Did you Know?
“Apollonian” is often paired with its opposite, “Dionysian,” to describe a binary between rational, well-ordered impulses and more chaotic, emotional impulses. While “Apollonian” is named for Apollo, the ancient Greek solar god known for reason and logic, “Dionysian” refers to the ancient Greek god Dionysus, the god of wine and celebration, who is associated with instinctual passions and heightened emotions. In his book “The Birth of Tragedy,” philosopher Friedrich Nietzche argued that drama — especially in its classic form of Greek tragedy — is created out of a merger between the two opposite instincts, pairing reason with irrationality, order with chaos, and logic with passion.
