The Greek pagan god associated with theatre The Cult of Dionysus

Dionysus Dionysus is the Greek god of wine, revelry, agriculture, the fertility of nature, and mystic ecstasy. He is the only god born of one god and one mortal parent. Also commonly known by his Roman name, Bacchus.

Dionysus is the Greek god of wine, revelry, agriculture, the fertility of nature, and mystic ecstasy.

He is the only god born of one god and one mortal parent.

Also commonly known by his Roman name, Bacchus.

The Birth of Dionysus Two different accounts of the same event

Story Number One: Dionysus is the son of the god Zeus and the mortal woman, Semele. With Dionysus still in her womb, Semele asked Zeus to show himself to her in all his majesty, and, to please her, he did so. Semele, unable to endure the sight of the lightning flashing around him, was struck dead. Dionysus was rescued from Semele’s womb and underwent a second birth from Zeus after gestating in his thigh. To hide the product of his adultery from his wife Hera, Zeus then gave the infant to nymphs of Nysa to be raised.

Dionysus is the son of the god Zeus and the mortal woman, Semele.

With Dionysus still in her womb, Semele asked Zeus to show himself to her in all his majesty, and, to please her, he did so. Semele, unable to endure the sight of the lightning flashing around him, was struck dead.

Dionysus was rescued from Semele’s womb and underwent a second birth from Zeus after gestating in his thigh.

To hide the product of his adultery from his wife Hera, Zeus then gave the infant to nymphs of Nysa to be raised.

Story Number Two: Dionysus is the son of Zeus and Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. Hera gets the Titans to lure the infant with toys, and then they rip him to shreds eating everything but his heart, which is saved by Athena. Zeus remakes his son from the heart and implants him in Semele who bears a new Dionysus. Hence, Dionysus is called "twice born."

Dionysus is the son of Zeus and Persephone, Queen of the Underworld.

Hera gets the Titans to lure the infant with toys, and then they rip him to shreds eating everything but his heart, which is saved by Athena.

Zeus remakes his son from the heart and implants him in Semele who bears a new Dionysus. Hence, Dionysus is called "twice born."

As an Adult . . . Dionysus discovered the magic of the vine. Hera, who remained his enemy, used her powers to drive him insane, though he was soon cured by the goddess Cybele. Upon arriving in Thrace, King Lycurgus tried to take the god prisoner, but Thetis, a sea nymph, offered him asylum beneath the sea, where he remained until the Bacchantes, his frenzied female worshippers, provided him with the opportunity to escape by driving King Lycurgus insane. Thinking he was attacking Dionysus’ sacred vines, Lycurgus cut off both his and his son’s own limbs.

Dionysus discovered the magic of the vine.

Hera, who remained his enemy, used her powers to drive him insane, though he was soon cured by the goddess Cybele.

Upon arriving in Thrace, King Lycurgus tried to take the god prisoner, but Thetis, a sea nymph, offered him asylum beneath the sea, where he remained until the Bacchantes, his frenzied female worshippers, provided him with the opportunity to escape by driving King Lycurgus insane.

Thinking he was attacking Dionysus’ sacred vines, Lycurgus cut off both his and his son’s own limbs.

Travels to India Dionysus made a triumphant trip to India, a country which he conquered in an expedition both warlike and divine. Here he acquired his signature chariot drawn by panthers and covered with vines and trailed by female followers, referred to as the Bacchantes.

Dionysus made a triumphant trip to India, a country which he conquered in an expedition both warlike and divine.

Here he acquired his signature chariot drawn by panthers and covered with vines and trailed by female followers, referred to as the Bacchantes.

Dionysus returns to Thebes, his birthplace, where his cousin Pentheus is king. He has returned to punish the women of Thebes for denying that he was a god and born of a god. The Return To Thebes

Dionysus returns to Thebes, his birthplace, where his cousin Pentheus is king.

He has returned to punish the women of Thebes for denying that he was a god and born of a god.

Pentheus is enraged at the worship of Dionysus and forbids it, but he cannot stop the women, including his mother Agave, or even the elder statesmen of the kingdom from swarming to the wilds to join the Bacchantes in worship. Dionysus lures Pentheus to the wilds where he is killed by the Bacchantes and then mutilated by Agave.

Pentheus is enraged at the worship of Dionysus and forbids it, but he cannot stop the women, including his mother Agave, or even the elder statesmen of the kingdom from swarming to the wilds to join the Bacchantes in worship.

Dionysus lures Pentheus to the wilds where he is killed by the Bacchantes and then mutilated by Agave.

The Pirate Encounter Dionysus decided to go to Naxos and hired the services of pirates to bring him there. The pirates secretly planned to bring Dionysus to Asia to sell him as a slave. When he learned their plan, he turned their oars into serpents and overtook the ship with vines. The pirates threw themselves overboard, where they turned into dolphins. This is why dolphins are so friendly to humans. They are trying to make up for their crimes against Dionysus.

Dionysus decided to go to Naxos and hired the services of pirates to bring him there.

The pirates secretly planned to bring Dionysus to Asia to sell him as a slave.

When he learned their plan, he turned their oars into serpents and overtook the ship with vines.

The pirates threw themselves overboard, where they turned into dolphins.

This is why dolphins are so friendly to humans. They are trying to make up for their crimes against Dionysus.

The Importance of Dionysus It was believed that he could liberate and inspire human kind. It was also believed that he could endow humans with divine creativity. Dionysus, thus, came to be considered a patron of the arts.

It was believed that he could liberate and inspire human kind. It was also believed that he could endow humans with divine creativity. Dionysus, thus, came to be considered a patron of the arts.

The Cult of Dionysus Dionysus was worshipped with tumultuous processions in which the spirits of earth and of fecundity appeared, their likeness evoked by masks. Dancing was a major part of the worship, especially as a celebration of freedom from self-consciousness and constraint. The singing and chanting of dithyrambs by a chorus became the central focus of these gatherings.

Dionysus was worshipped with tumultuous processions in which the spirits of earth and of fecundity appeared, their likeness evoked by masks.

Dancing was a major part of the worship, especially as a celebration of freedom from self-consciousness and constraint.

The singing and chanting of dithyrambs by a chorus became the central focus of these gatherings.

Dithyramb a poem, chant, or hymn of ancient Greece sung by an organized chorus of revelers in honor of the god Dionysus The poems frequently narrated the details of Dionysus’ life and adventures; they likewise praised his powers and sacredness.

a poem, chant, or hymn of ancient Greece sung by an organized chorus of revelers in honor of the god Dionysus

The poems frequently narrated the details of Dionysus’ life and adventures; they likewise praised his powers and sacredness.

Assignment Write your own 16-line, rhyming dithyramb in honor of Dionysus. Re-tell one of his adventures, and pepper it with praises to this highly esteemed god.

Write your own 16-line, rhyming dithyramb in honor of Dionysus. Re-tell one of his adventures, and pepper it with praises to this highly esteemed god.