Dionysus

It seems wrong to say that the birth of Dionysus was ‘not normal’ due to the strange ways in which many of the gods in ancient Greek religion come to be. However, Dionysus does seem to have an alternative creation. His father Zeus impregnates Semele but was struck down by Zeus with a thunderbolt. Zeus then rescued the unborn embryo of Dionysus from Semele and sewed it into his thigh. Dionysus was therefore known as ‘twice born’. Dionysus was disguised as a girl in order to hide him from Hera’s persecution. In honour of this, during the October Oskophoria festival, young boys would dress as girls and carry bunches of grapes which were a symbol of Dionysus. Grapes were held because Dionysus was the god of wine, music and entertainment which all represent socialising and fun (this is why I suppose as a student I find him most interesting). The effects of the wine that people drank sent them into an uncontrollable state of mind which they could not explain. Athenian vase paintings present to different images of Dionysus. The masculine, wine drinking, musical side and the ivory crowned, orderly fashioned respectable god.

An interesting aspect of the worship of Dionysus for me is the connection that the god has with madness. Many followers’ of Dionysus were involved in a sort of ritualized social frenzy whilst under the influence of strong wine. There was ecstatic worship of Dionysus on the high slopes of Mount Parnassos. According to Plutarch who served as a priest at Delphi during the turn of the first century who witnessed the woman known as Thyiads (raving ones), scaling the mountain above the Korykian cave and wetting the rocks with sacrificial blood. This condition of madness is shown in Euripedes’ Bacchae when Dionysus says “These sisters, all three, I’ve stung into a frenzy and steered them from their homes into the mountains where I left them raving. Complete of course with orgiastic trappings”. Dionysus is referring to the Cyclian woman which he has sent into a wild frenzy of ritualistic sexual madness. This seems almost like a social event where they collectively let loose and run free in the mountains. The more severe mental condition that was said to be associated with Dionysus is shown in the story of the Miniyades, royal princesses of Orkhamenos in Boiota who refused to involve themselves in the ritual of assuming the guise of Maenads. The princess’ chose to stay in the palace and weave. This caused the princesses to stop what they were doing and fall into a murderous frenzy, resulting in them tearing to pieces and devouring one of their own children. This story was told to warn the followers of Dionysus that disrespecting the god will lead to a murderous rage overtaking your body.

Dionysus was the god that introduced the grape vine to the people of Attica but before some people could get used to the effects of wine, there were serious consequences for misusing the gift that he had bestowed upon these people. An example of this is when Ikaros and some shepherds drank the mysterious wine and in their drunken state ended up murdering Ikaros, causing his daughter to hanged herself due to grief. This was told a story of negative consequences of over indulging in Dionysus’ divine gift to the people of Attica. This aspect of ancient Greek religion can be compared to Christianity today. This is because the consumption of wine as part of the Eucharist is only a small amount. This may be in order to refrain from losing control and not participating fully in the worship of God.