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'''Dionysus''' or '''Dionysos''' ([[Ancient Greek]]: Διόνυσος; also known as '''Bacchus''' in both [[Greek Mythology|Greek]] and [[Roman mythology]], represents not only the intoxicating power of wine, but also its social and beneficent influences. He is viewed as the promoter of civilization, a lawgiver, and lover of peace — as well as the patron deity of both agriculture and the theater.

Greeks borrowed Dionysus' figure and within the [[Greek mythology|Olympian tradition]] he is made to be the son of [[Zeus]] and [[Semele]]; other versions of the story contend that he is the son of [[Zeus]] and [[Persephone]].

== Worship ==

Dionysus is a god of mystery religious rites, such as those practiced in honor of [[Demeter]] and [[Persephone]] at [[Eleusinian Mysteries|Eleusis]] near [[Athens]]. In the [[Thrace|Thracian]] mysteries, he wears the "bassaris" or fox-skin, symbolizing new life. His own rites the [[Dionysian Mysteries]] were the most secretive of all (See also [[Maenads]])
Many scholars believe that Dionysus is a syncretism of a local Greek nature deity and a more powerful god from [[Thrace]] or Phrygia such as Sabazios.

[[Herodotus]], (in ''Histories'' 2:146) was aware that the worship of Dionysus arrived later among the Greeks than the Olympian pantheon, for he remarks
:"as it is, the Greek story has it that no sooner was Dionysus born than Zeus sewed him up in his thigh and carried him away to Nysa in Ethiopia beyond Egypt; and as for [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], the Greeks do not know what became of him after his birth. It is therefore plain to me that the Greeks learned the names of these two gods later than the names of all the others, and trace the birth of both to the time when they gained the knowledge.

Many Greeks were sure that the cult of Dionysus arrived in Greece from [[Anatolia]], but Greek concepts of where Nysa was, whether set in Anatolia, or in Libya ('away in the west beside a great ocean'), Ethiopia (Herodotus), or Arabia (Diodorus Siculus), are variable enough to suggest that a magical distant land was intended, perhaps named 'Nysa' to explain the god's unreadable name, as the 'god of Nysa.' [[Apollodorus]] seems to be following Pherecydes, who relates how the infant Dionysus, god of the grapevine, was nursed by the rain-nymphs, the [[Hyades]] at Nysa.

The above contradictions suggest to some that we are dealing not with the historical memory of a cult that is foreign, but with a god in whom foreignness is inherent. And indeed, Dionysus's name is found on [[Mycenean]] [[Linear B]] tablets as "DI-WO-NI-SO-JO"<sup id="fn_1_back">[[#fn_1|1]]</sup>, and Kerenyi traces him to Minoan Crete, where his Minoan name is unknown but his characteristic presence is recognizable. Clearly, Dionysus had been with the Greeks and their predecessors a long time, and yet always retained the feel of something alien.

The bull, the serpent, the ivy and wine are the signs of the characteristic Dionysian atmosphere, infused with the unquenchable life of the god. Their numinous presence signifies that the god is near. (Kerenyi 1976). Dionysus is strongly associated with the [[satyr]]s, [[centaur]]s and sileni. Besides the grapevine and its wild barren alter-ego, the toxic ivy plant, both sacred to him, the fig was also his. The pine cone that tipped his thyrsus linked him to [[Cybele]], and the pomegranate linked him to Demeter.

The [[Dionysia]] and [[Lenaia]] festivals in Athens were also dedicated to Dionysus.

===Bacchanalia===

Introduced into Rome (c. [[200 BC]]) from the Greek culture of lower Italy or by way of Greek-influenced Etruria, the bacchanalia were held in secret and attended by women only, on three days in the year in the grove of [[Simila]] near the Aventine Hill, on [[March 16]] and [[March 17|17]]. Subsequently, admission to the rites were extended to men and celebrations took place five times a month. The notoriety of these festivals, where many kinds of crimes and political conspiracies were supposed to be planned, led in [[186 BC]] to a decree of the Senate — the so-called ''Senatus consultum de Bacchanalibus'', inscribed on a bronze tablet discovered in Calabria ([[1640]]), now at Vienna — by which the Bacchanalia were prohibited throughout all Italy except in certain special cases which must be approved specifically by the Senate. In spite of the severe punishment inflicted on those found in violation of this decree, the Bacchanalia were not stamped out, at any rate in the south of Italy, for a very long time.

=== Appellations ===

Dionysus sometimes has the epithet '''Bromios''', meaning "the thunderer" or "he of the loud shout". Another epithet is '''Dendrites'''; as '''Dionysus Dendrites''' ("he of the trees"), he is a powerful fertility god. '''Dithyrambos''' ("he of the double door") is sometimes used to refer to him or solemn songs sung to him at festivals. The name refers to his premature birth. [[Iacchus]], possibly an epithet of Dionysus, is associated with the [[Eleusinian Mysteries]]; in [[Eleusis]], he is known as a son of [[Zeus]] and [[Demeter]]. The name "Iacchus" may come from the [[Iacchus|ιακχο&sigmaf;]], a hymn sung in honor of Dionysus. [[Eleutherios]] ("the liberator") was an epithet for both Dionysus and [[Eros (god)|Eros]]. As [[Oeneus]], he is the god of the wine-press. With the epithet '''Liknites''' ("he of the winnowing fan") he is a fertility god connected with the [[mystery religion]]s. A winnowing fan was similar to a [[Shovel|shovel]] and was used to separate the chaff from the good, cut grain. In addition, Dionysus is known
as '''Lyaeus''' ("he who releases") as a god of relaxation and freedom from worry. In the Greek pantheon, Dionysus (along with [[Zeus]]) absorbs the role of [[Sabazios]], a [[Phrygia|Phrygian]] deity, whose name means "shatterer" and to whom shattered pottery was sacrificed (probably to prevent other pottery from being broken during firing). In the [[Roman mythology|Roman pantheon]], Sabazius became an alternate name for Bacchus.

== Birth ==

Dionysus had an unusual birth that evokes the difficulty in fitting him into the Olympian pantheon. His mother was Semele (daughter of [[Cadmus]]), a mortal woman, and his father Zeus, the king of the gods. Zeus's wife, [[Hera]], a jealous and vain goddess, discovered the affair while Semele was pregnant. Appearing as an old crone(in other stories a nurse), Hera befriended Semele, who confided in her that her husband was actually Zeus. Hera pretended not to believe her, and planted seeds of doubt in Semele's mind. Curious, Semele demanded of Zeus that he reveal himself in all his glory as proof of his godhood. Though Zeus begged her not to ask this, she persisted and he agreed. Mortals, however, cannot look upon a god without dying, and she perished. Zeus rescued the fetal Dionysus, however, by sewing him into his thigh. A few months later, Dionysus was born.

In another version of the same story, Dionysus was the son of Zeus and [[Persephone]], the queen of the underworld. A jealous Hera again attempted to kill the child, this time by sending Titans to rip Dionysus to pieces after luring the baby with toys. Zeus drove the Titans away with his thunderbolts, but only after the Titans ate everything but the heart, which was saved, variously, by [[Athena]], [[Rhea]], or [[Demeter]]. Zeus used the heart to recreate him in the womb of Semele, hence he was again "the twice-born". Sometimes people said that he gave Semele the heart to eat to impregnate her. The rebirth in both versions of the story is the primary reason he was worshipped in mystery religions, as his death and rebirth were events of mystical reverence. This narrative was apparently used in certain Greek and Roman [[mystery religion]]s. Variants of it are found in [[Callimachus]] and [[Nonnus]], who refer to this Dionysus under the title [[Zagreus]], and also in several fragmentary poems attributed to [[Orpheus]].

== Childhood ==

The legend goes that Zeus took the infant Dionysus and gave him in charge to the rain-[[nymph]]s of Nysa, who nourished his infancy and childhood, and for their care Zeus rewarded them by placing them as the Hyades among the stars. Alternatively, he was raised by [[Maro]].

When Dionysus grew up he discovered the culture of the vine and the mode of extracting its precious juice; but Hera struck him with madness, and drove him forth a wanderer through various parts of the earth. In Phrygia the
goddess [[Cybele]], better known to the Greeks as [[Rhea]], cured him and taught him her religious rites, and he set out on a progress through Asia teaching the people the cultivation of the vine. The most famous part of his wanderings is his expedition to India, which is said to have lasted several years. Returning in triumph he undertook to introduce his worship into [[Greece]], but was opposed by some princes who dreaded its introduction on account of the disorders and madness it brought with it. (See [[King Pentheus]] or [[Lycurgus]].)

As a young man, Dionysus was exceptionally attractive. Once, while disguised as a mortal on a ship, the sailors attempted to kidnap him for their sexual pleasures. Dionysus mercifully turned them into dolphins but saved the helmsman, [[Acoetes]], who recognized the god and tried to stop his sailors. In a similar story, Dionysus desired to sail from Icaria to Naxos. He then hired a Tyrrhenian pirate ship. But when the god was on board, they sailed not to Naxos but to Asia, intending to sell him as a slave. So Dionysus turned the mast and oars into snakes, and filled the vessel with ivy and the sound of flutes so that the sailors went mad, and leaping into the sea, were turned into dolphins. Others say that Dionysus came on board after these sailors, having leapt ashore, captured him, stripped him of his possessions, and tied him with ropes.

== [[Midas]] ==

Once, Dionysus found his old school master and foster father, [[Silenus]], missing. The old man had been drinking, and had wandered away drunk, and was found by some peasants, who carried him to their king, [[Midas]] (alternatively, he passed out in Midas' rose garden). Midas recognized him, and treated him hospitably, entertaining him for ten days and nights with politeness, while Silenus entertained Midas and his friends with stories and songs. On the eleventh day he brought Silenus back to Dionysus. Dionysus offered Midas his choice of whatever reward he wanted. Midas asked that whatever he might touch should be changed into gold. Dionysus consented, though was sorry that he had not made a better choice. Midas rejoiced in his new power, which he hastened to put to the test. He touched and turned to gold an oak twig and a stone. Overjoyed, as soon as he got home, he ordered the servants to set a feast on the table. Then he found that his bread, meat, daughter and wine turned to gold.

Upset, Midas strove to divest himself of his power (the [[Midas Touch]]); he hated the gift he had coveted. He prayed to Dionysus, begging to be delivered from starvation. Dionysus heard and consented; he told Midas to wash in the river [[Pactolus]]. He did so, and when he touched the waters the power passed into them, and the river sands changed into gold. (Note: this was the [[cosmogony]] that explained why the sands of the river Pactolus were rich in gold)

== Other stories ==

When [[Hephaestus]] bound [[Hera]] to a magical chair, Dionysus got him drunk and brought him back to Olympus after he had passed out. For this act, he was made one of the twelve Olympians.

[[Acis]], a Sicilian youth, was sometimes said to be Bacchus' son. A [[satyr]] named [[Ampelos]] was a good friend of Bacchus.

[[Callirhoe]] was a [[Calydon|Calydonian]] woman who scorned a priest of Dionysus who threatened to inflict all the women of Calydon with insanity (see [[Maenad]]). The priest was ordered to sacrifice Callirhoe but he killed himself instead. Callirhoe threw herself into a well which was later named after her.

As Dionysus was almost certainly a late addition to the pantheon of [[Greek mythology]], there was some hostility to his worship. [[Homer]] mentions him only briefly and with much hostility. [[Euripides]] also wrote a tale concerning the destructive nature of Dionysus in his play entitled ''[[The Bacchae]]''. Since Euripides wrote this play while in the court of King [[Archelaus I of Macedon|Archelaus]] of [[Macedon]], some scholars believe that the cult of Dionysus was malicious in Macedon but benign in [[Athens]]. In the play, Dionysus returns to his birthplace, [[Thebes]], ruled by his cousin, [[Pentheus]]. Pentheus was angry at the women of Thebes, including his mother, [[Agave]], for denying his divinity and worshipping Dionysus against his will. The worshippers of Dionysus were known as blood-thirsty, wild women called [[Maenads]]. The women tore Pentheus to shreds after he was lured to the woods by Dionysus. His body was mutilated by Agave.

When King [[Lycurgus]] of [[Thrace]] heard that Dionysus was in his kingdom, he imprisoned all the followers of Dionysus, the [[Maenads]]. Dionysus fled, taking refuge with [[Thetis]]. Dionysus then sent a drought and the people revolted. Dionysus made King Lycurgus insane, and he sliced his own son into pieces with an axe, thinking he was a patch of [[ivy]], a plant holy to Dionysus. An [[oracle]] then claimed that the land would stay dry and barren as long as Lycurgus was alive, so his people had him drawn and quartered. With Lycurgus dead, Dionysus lifted the curse.

===Consorts/Children===

# [[Aphrodite]]
## [[Charites]]
### [[Aglaea]]
### [[Euphrosyne]]
### [[Thalia]]
## [[Hymenaios]]
## [[Priapus]]
# [[Ariadne]]
## [[Oenopion]]
# [[Nyx]]
## [[Phthonus]]
# Unknown mother
## [[Acis]]

==References==
# Adams, JP. (2005?) ''Dionysos''. http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/dionysos.html
# Powell, Barry B. ''Classical Myth.'' Second ed. With new translations of ancient texts by Herbert M. Howe. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1998.
# ''The HarperCollins Study Bible.'' New Revised Standard Version. With the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books. London, UK: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 1993.

==Bibliography==
*[http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy39.html] Titus Livy, ''History of Rome, Book 39:13,'' Description of banned Bacchanalia in Rome and Italy
*[http://www.empirecontact.com/narrative/dionysus.html "Dionysus"], a narrative poem by Michael J. Farrand.

==External links==

A series of [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/CGPrograms/Catalogue/Script/Dionysos.html casts showing Dionysos] held by the Beazley Archive at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
[http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/CGPrograms/Catalogue/Script/Dionysos.html casts showing Dionysos]

[http://www.crystalrivers.com/prayers/dionysus.html Hymn to Dionysus, God of All Things Wild]

[http://www.winterscapes.com/dionysus/ Temenos of Dionysos, Hellenic polytheist site]

[http://www.winterscapes.com/thiasoslusios/ Thiasos Lusios, pagan Dionysian organization]

[[Category:Greek gods]]

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 === Appellations ===
-Dionysus sometimes has the epithet '''Bromios''', meaning "the thunderer" or "he of the loud shout".  Another epithet is '''Dendrites'''; as '''Dionysus Dendrites''' ("he of the trees"), he is a powerful fertility god.  '''Dithyrambos''' ("he of the double door") is sometimes used to refer to him or solemn songs sung to him at festivals.  The name refers to his premature birth.  [[Iacchus]], possibly an epithet of Dionysus, is associated with the [[Eleusinian Mysteries]]; in [[Eleusis]], he is known as a son of [[Zeus]] and [[Demeter]].  The name "Iacchus" may come from the [[Iacchus|&iota;&alpha;&kappa;&chi;&omicron;&sigmaf;]], a hymn sung in honor of Dionysus.  [[Eleutherios]] ("the liberator") was an epithet for both Dionysus and [[Eros (god)|Eros]].  As [[Oeneus]], he is the god of the wine-press.  With the epithet '''Liknites''' ("he of the winnowing fan") he is a fertility god connected with the [[mystery religion]]s.  A winnowing fan was similar to a [[Shovel|shovel]] and was used to separate the chaff from the good, cut grain.  In addition, Dionysus is known
+Dionysus sometimes has the epithet '''Bromios''', meaning "the thunderer" or "he of the loud shout".  Another epithet is '''Dendrites'''; as '''Dionysus Dendrites''' ("he of the trees"), he is a powerful fertility god.  '''Dithyrambos''' ("he of the double door") is sometimes used to refer to him or solemn songs sung to him at festivals.  The name refers to his premature birth.  [[Iacchus]], possibly an epithet of Dionysus, is associated with the [[Eleusinian Mysteries]]; in [[Eleusis]], he is known as a son of [[Zeus]] and [[Demeter]].  The name "Iacchus" may come from the [[Iacchus|&iota;&alpha;&kappa;&chi;&omicron;&sigmaf;]], a hymn sung in honor of Dionysus.  [[Eleutherios]] ("the liberator") was an epithet for both Dionysus and [[Eros (god)|Eros]].  As [[Oeneus]], he is the god of the wine-press.  With the epithet '''Liknites''' ("he of the winnowing fan") he is a fertility god connected with the mystery religions.  A winnowing fan was similar to a [[Shovel|shovel]] and was used to separate the chaff from the good, cut grain.  In addition, Dionysus is known
-as '''Lyaeus''' ("he who releases") as a god of relaxation and freedom from worry.  In the Greek pantheon, Dionysus (along with [[Zeus]]) absorbs the role of [[Sabazios]], a [[Phrygia|Phrygian]] deity, whose name means "shatterer" and to whom shattered pottery was sacrificed (probably to prevent other pottery from being broken during firing).  In the [[Roman mythology|Roman pantheon]], Sabazius became an alternate name for Bacchus.
+as '''Lyaeus''' ("he who releases") as a god of relaxation and freedom from worry.  In the Greek pantheon, Dionysus (along with [[Zeus]]) absorbs the role of Sabazios, a Phrygian deity, whose name means "shatterer" and to whom shattered pottery was sacrificed (probably to prevent other pottery from being broken during firing).  In the Roman pantheon, Sabazius became an alternate name for Bacchus.
 == Birth ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:25, February 4, 2006
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	'''Dionysus''' or '''Dionysos''' ([[Ancient Greek]]: Διόνυσος; also known as '''Bacchus''' in both [[Greek Mythology\|Greek]] and [[Roman mythology]], represents not only the intoxicating power of wine, but also its social and beneficent influences. He is viewed as the promoter of civilization, a lawgiver, and lover of peace — as well as the patron deity of both agriculture and the theater.	+	'''Dionysus''' or '''Dionysos''' ([[Ancient Greek]]: Διόνυσος; also known as '''Bacchus''' in both [[Greek Mythology\|Greek]] and Roman mythology, represents not only the intoxicating power of wine, but also its social and beneficent influences. He is viewed as the promoter of civilization, a lawgiver, and lover of peace — as well as the patron deity of both agriculture and the theater.

	Greeks borrowed Dionysus' figure and within the [[Greek mythology\|Olympian tradition]] he is made to be the son of [[Zeus]] and [[Semele]]; other versions of the story contend that he is the son of [[Zeus]] and [[Persephone]].		Greeks borrowed Dionysus' figure and within the [[Greek mythology\|Olympian tradition]] he is made to be the son of [[Zeus]] and [[Semele]]; other versions of the story contend that he is the son of [[Zeus]] and [[Persephone]].

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 Dionysus had an unusual birth that evokes the difficulty in fitting him into the Olympian pantheon.  His mother was Semele (daughter of [[Cadmus]]), a mortal woman, and his father Zeus, the king of the gods.  Zeus's wife, [[Hera]], a jealous and vain goddess, discovered the affair while Semele was pregnant.  Appearing as an old crone(in other stories a nurse), Hera befriended Semele, who confided in her that her husband was actually Zeus.  Hera pretended not to believe her, and planted seeds of doubt in Semele's mind.  Curious, Semele demanded of Zeus that he reveal himself in all his glory as proof of his godhood.  Though Zeus begged her not to ask this, she persisted and he agreed.  Mortals, however, cannot look upon a god without dying, and she perished.  Zeus rescued the fetal Dionysus, however, by sewing him into his thigh.  A few months later, Dionysus was born.
-In another version of the same story, Dionysus was the son of Zeus and [[Persephone]], the queen of the underworld.  A jealous Hera again attempted to kill the child, this time by sending Titans to rip Dionysus to pieces after luring the baby with toys.  Zeus drove the Titans away with his thunderbolts, but only after the Titans ate everything but the heart, which was saved, variously, by [[Athena]], [[Rhea]], or [[Demeter]].  Zeus used the heart to recreate  him in the womb of Semele, hence he was again "the twice-born".  Sometimes people said that he gave Semele the heart to eat to impregnate her.  The rebirth in both versions of the story is the primary reason he was worshipped in mystery religions, as his death and rebirth were events of mystical reverence.  This narrative was apparently used in certain Greek and Roman [[mystery religion]]s.  Variants of it are found in [[Callimachus]] and [[Nonnus]], who refer to this Dionysus under the title [[Zagreus]], and also in several fragmentary poems attributed to [[Orpheus]].
+In another version of the same story, Dionysus was the son of Zeus and [[Persephone]], the queen of the underworld.  A jealous Hera again attempted to kill the child, this time by sending Titans to rip Dionysus to pieces after luring the baby with toys.  Zeus drove the Titans away with his thunderbolts, but only after the Titans ate everything but the heart, which was saved, variously, by [[Athena]], [[Rhea]], or [[Demeter]].  Zeus used the heart to recreate  him in the womb of Semele, hence he was again "the twice-born".  Sometimes people said that he gave Semele the heart to eat to impregnate her.  The rebirth in both versions of the story is the primary reason he was worshipped in mystery religions, as his death and rebirth were events of mystical reverence.  This narrative was apparently used in certain Greek and Roman mystery religions.  Variants of it are found in [[Callimachus]] and [[Nonnus]], who refer to this Dionysus under the title [[Zagreus]], and also in several fragmentary poems attributed to [[Orpheus]].
 == Childhood ==