Includes bibliographical references (pages 285-315).
Introduction: The language of mysteries -- Poetic theology -- Seneca's graces -- The medal of Pico Della Mirandola -- Orpheus in praise of blind love -- Virtue reconciled with pleasure -- 'Ripeness is all' -- Botticelli's primavera -- The birth of Venus -- Sacred and profane love -- Amor as a god of death -- The flying of Marsyas -- A Bacchic mystery by Michaelangelo -- Pan and Proteus -- The concealed god -- Conclusion: An observation on method -- Appendix 1: Cusanus in Italy -- Appendix 2: Pagan vestiges of the Trinity -- Appendix 3: Bessarion's letter on Palingenesis -- Appendix 4: The Trinity of Serapis -- Appendix 5: Aphrodite's shell -- Appendix 6: Gafurius on the harmony of the spheres -- Appendix 7: Love and strife in the 'Judgement of Paris' -- Appendix 8: A cycle of love by Veronese -- Appendix 9: Porus Consilii: notes on the Orphic 'Counsels of night'