So it is tempting to divide the ancient temperament into a realm of Dionysus and a realm of Yahweh—hedonism and egalitarianism versus hierarchy and war. On the one hand a willingness to seek delight in the here and now; on the other, a determination to prepare for future danger. A feminine or androgynous spirit of playfulness versus the cold principle of patriarchal authority. …

But this entire dichotomy breaks down with the arrival of Jesus, whose followers claimed him to be the son of Yahweh. Jesus gave the implacable Yahweh a human face, making him more accessible and forgiving. At the same time, though—and less often noted—Jesus was, or was portrayed by his followers as, a continuation of the quintessentially pagan Dionysus.