A rhapsode is a type of actor or performer skilled in reciting and interpreting poetry. In ancient Greece, rhapsodes performed at gatherings or parties more commonly than in theaters. A rhapsode was responsible for telling stories of cultural significance, thereby ensuring that epic poems and oral histories were passed down through generations during a time when the ability to read and write was uncommon. Ion’s reputation as the best rhapsode in Greece allows Socrates to explore the distinction between knowledge and inspiration as Socrates attempts to determine why Ion is so skilled when it comes to performing Homer’s poetry but not that of any other poet.

Divine madness, also known as theia mania, is sometimes characterized as “inspiration,” “possession,” or being “out of one’s mind.” It is the state in which one’s reason and intellect are “taken away,” perhaps by some Muse or deity, and one becomes capable of producing works like poetry, music, or prophecy that exceed the bounds that a person would normally be capable of. In ancient times, this concept was used to describe the ecstatic state that accompanied various religious ceremonies and cultural festivals, and religious sects attempted to induce it in a variety of ways, including taking mind-altering substances, fasting, spinning, and communal singing and dancing.