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| Many scholars believe that Bacchus was a fusion of a local Greek nature deity and a more powerful god from ] or ] such as ]. | Many scholars believe that Bacchus was a fusion of a local Greek nature deity and a more powerful god from ] or ] such as ]. | ||
| Dionysus was strongly associated with the ]s, ]s and ]. He always carried a ]. | Dionysus was strongly associated with the ]s, ]s and ]. He always carried a ]. The ivy plant was sacred to him. | ||
| === Appellations === | === Appellations === | ||
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| As Dionysus was almost certainly a late addition to the pantheon of ], there was some hostility to his worship. ] mentions him only briefly and with much hostility. ] also wrote a tale concerning the destructive nature of Dionysus in his play entitled "]". Since Euripedes wrote this play while in the court of King ] of ], some scholars believe that the cult of Dionysus was malicious in Macedon but benign in ]. In the play, Dionysus returns to his birthplace, ], ruled by his cousin, ]. Pentheus was angry at the women of Thebes, including his mother, ], for denying his divinity and worshipping Dionysus against his will. The worshippers of Dionysus were known as blood-thirsty, wild women called ]. The women tore Pentheus to shreds after he was lured to the woods by Dionysus. His body was mutilated by Agave. | As Dionysus was almost certainly a late addition to the pantheon of ], there was some hostility to his worship. ] mentions him only briefly and with much hostility. ] also wrote a tale concerning the destructive nature of Dionysus in his play entitled "]". Since Euripedes wrote this play while in the court of King ] of ], some scholars believe that the cult of Dionysus was malicious in Macedon but benign in ]. In the play, Dionysus returns to his birthplace, ], ruled by his cousin, ]. Pentheus was angry at the women of Thebes, including his mother, ], for denying his divinity and worshipping Dionysus against his will. The worshippers of Dionysus were known as blood-thirsty, wild women called ]. The women tore Pentheus to shreds after he was lured to the woods by Dionysus. His body was mutilated by Agave. | ||
| When King ] of ] heard that Dionysus was in his kingdom, imprisoned all the followers of Dionysus, the ]. Dionysus fled, taking refuge with ]. 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 ], a plant holy to Dionysus. An ] then claimed that the land would stay dry and barren as long as Lycurgus was alive. His people had him drawn and quartered. With Lycurgus dead, Dionysus lifted the curse. | |||
| Consorts/Children | Consorts/Children | ||
Revision as of 09:16, 11 September 2002
Dionysus and Dionysius the Elder are two different people in Greek mythology. For Dionysius the Elder, click here.
Bacchus (also known as Dionysus and Liber), the Roman and Greek god of wine, was the son of Jupiter and Semele (in Eleusis, Zeus and Demeter). He represented not only the intoxicating power of wine, but its social and beneficent influences likewise; he was viewed as the promoter of civilization, and a lawgiver and lover of peace, as well as the patron deity of both agriculture and the theater.
Worship
More so in his Greek incarnation as Dionysus instead of Bacchus, the god was a god of mystery religious rites, such as those practiced at Eleusinian mysteries. In the Thracian mysteries, he wore the "bassaris" or fox-skin, symbolizing new life. (See also Maenads)
Many scholars believe that Bacchus was a fusion of a local Greek nature deity and a more powerful god from Thrace or Phrygia such as Sabazius.
Dionysus was strongly associated with the satyrs, centaurs and sileni. He always carried a thyrsus. The ivy plant was sacred to him.
Appellations
Dionysus sometimes had the epithet Bromios, meaning "the thunderer" or "he of the loud shout". Another epithet was Dendrites; as Dionysus Dendrites ("he of the trees"), he was a powerful fertility god. Dithyrambos ("he of the double door") was 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, was associated with the Eleusinian mysteries; in Eleusis, he was known as a son of Zeus and Demeter. The name "Iacchus" may come from the iakchos, hymns sung in honor of Dionysus. Eleutherios ("the liberator") was an epithet for both Dionysus and Eros. As Lenaeus, he was the god of the wine-press. With the epithet Liknites ("he of the winnowing fan") he was a fertility god connected with the mystery religions. A winnowing fan was similar to a shovel and was used to separate the chaff from the good, cut grain. In addition, Dionysus was known as Lyaeus ("he who releases") as a god of relaxation and freedom from worry. In the Greek pantheon, Dionysus (along with Zeus) absorbed the role of Sabazius, a Phrygian deity. In the Roman pantheon, Sabazius became an alternate name for Bacchus.
Birth
Bacchus' had an unusual birth. His mother was Semele (daughter of Cadmus), a mortal woman, and his father Jupiter, the king of the gods. Jupiter's wife, Juno, a jealous and vain goddess, discovered the affair while Semele was pregnant. Appearing as an old crone, Juno befriended Semele, who confided in her that her husband was actually Jupiter. Juno pretended not to believe her, and planted seeds of doubt in Semele's mind. Curious, Semele demanded of Jupiter that he reveal himself in all his glory as proof of his godhood. Though Jupiter begged her not to ask this, she persisted and he agreed. Mortals, however, can not look upon a god without dying, and she perished. Jupiter rescued the fetal Bacchus, however, by sewing him into his leg. A few months later, Bacchus was born. This leads to his being called "the twice-born".
In another version of the same story, Bacchus (often called Zagreus, the supreme god of Greek Orphism, in this account) was the son of Jupiter and Persephone, the queen of the underworld. A jealous Juno again attempted to kill the child, this time by sending Titans to rip Bacchus to pieces after luring the baby with toys. Though Jupiter drove the Titans away with his thunderbolts but only after the Titans ate everything but the heart, which was saved, variously, by Minerva, Rhea, or Ceres. Jupiter used the heart to recreate Bacchus and implant him in the womb of Semele, hence he was again "the twice-born". Sometimes it was 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.
Childhood
The legend goes that Jupiter took the infant Bacchus and gave him in charge to the Nysaean nymphs, who nourished his infancy and childhood, and for their care were rewarded by Jupiter by being placed, as the Hyades, among the stars. Alternatively, he was raised by Maro.
When Bacchus grew up he discovered the culture of the vine and the mode of extracting its precious juice; but Juno struck him with madness, and drove him forth a wanderer through various parts of the earth. In Phrygia the goddess 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.
As a young man, Bacchus was exceptionally attractive. Once, while disguised as a mortal on a ship, the sailors attempted to kidnap him for their sexual pleasures. Bacchus mercifully turned them into dolphins but saved the captain, Acoetes, who recognized the god and tried to stop his sailors.
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 and became inedible.
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 became changed into gold. (Note: this explained why the river Pactolus was 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 Calydonian woman who scorned a priest of Dionysus who threatened to inflict all the women of Calydon with insanity (see Bacchae). The priest was ordered to sacrifice Callirhoe but he killed himself instead. Callirhoe threw herself into a well which was later married 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. Euripedes also wrote a tale concerning the destructive nature of Dionysus in his play entitled "The Bacchae". Since Euripedes wrote this play while in the court of King 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, 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. His people had him drawn and quartered. With Lycurgus dead, Dionysus lifted the curse.
Consorts/Children