FROM RIVER TO WINE

ARCHETYPOLOGY AND THE SEMIOTIC CONVERSION OF THE DIONYSIAN BOTO IN PAES LOUREIRO´S POETICS

Abstract

This study examines the symbolic connections between the Boto, a central figure in Amazonian folklore, and Dionysus, the Greek deity of ecstasy and pleasure, in João de Jesus Paes Loureiro’s poem “Hinos Dionisíacos ao Boto” [Dionysian Hymns to the Boto]. Drawing on an interdisciplinary approach that combines comparative mythology (Brandão, 1991; Cascudo, 1998), the theory of Semiotic Conversion (proposed by Loureiro, 2007), and archetypal criticism (Jung, 2002; Campbell, 1997), the analysis demonstrates how the Boto is literarily reimagined as an Amazonian Dionysus, embodying a transgressive hedonism that subverts moral conventions and celebrates the fleeting moment. The analysis reveals that Loureiro transforms this regional myth into a universal archetype – akin to Dionysus – while challenging Eurocentric cultural hierarchies. Key parallels between the figures include their sacred/profane duality, metamorphosis, and pleasure as shared symbolic cores. The study also addresses the challenges of researching the Boto due to scarce archival sources and the marginalization of Amazonian oral narratives. Ultimately, this work proposes a new paradigm for understanding archetypes in postcolonial contexts, where regional literature engages with canonical traditions without losing its cultural distinctiveness.