This paper theorizes how ancient literature can be used to inspire contemporary psychological understanding. We articulate a critical presentism that reads ancient literature symbolically without losing sight of important differences of meaning over time. Although ancient literature may inspire understanding of our present-day concerns, historical text cannot be used to explain contemporary understandings without charges of naïve presentism. A hermeneutics of archetypes is used to theorize a way of using ancient literature that remains critical of presentist claims to knowledge. Without losing sight of important socio-historical differences, the story of The Bacchae is used to illustrate how literature from the past can engender psychological understanding.
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