2006-07-17 16:19:26 · 7 answers · asked by bamabest 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Dionysus
(dīnī´ss) , in Greek religion and mythology, god of fertility and wine. Legends concerning him are profuse and contradictory. However, he was one of the most important gods of the Greeks and was associated with various religious cults. He was probably in origin a Thracian deity. According to the Orphic legend, he was Dionysus Zagreus, the son of Zeus and Persephone (see Orphic Mysteries); in other legends he was the son of Zeus and Semele and was reared by the nymphs on Mt. Nysa, where he invented the art of wine making. Having grown to manhood, Dionysus wandered through many lands, teaching men the culture of the vine and the mysteries of his cult. He was followed by an entourage of satyrs, sileni, maenads, and nymphs. Many festivals were held in honor of Dionysus; most famous were the Lesser or Rural Dionysia (in late December), the Greater or City Dionysia (in late spring), the Anthesteria (in early spring), and the Lenaea (in winter). His characteristic worship was ecstatic and women were prominently involved. Votaries, through music, dancing, and drinking, and through eating flesh and blood of sacrificial animals, attempted to merge their identities with nature. Later, however, the worship of Dionysus became more formalized and calm. It was believed that not only could he liberate and inspire man through wine and ecstatic frenzy, but he could endow him directly with divine creativity. Dionysus thus came to be considered a patron of the arts. He was variously represented as a full-grown bearded man, as a beast, and as a delicate, effeminate youth. The Romans identified him with Liber and with Bacchus, who was more properly the god of wine. From the music, singing, and dancing at the festivals of Dionysus developed the dithyramb and ultimately Greek drama.
See M. Nilsson, The Dionysiac Mysteries of the Hellenistic and Roman Age (1975).
2006-07-18 05:26:55 · answer #1 · answered by samanthajanecaroline 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dionysus was the son of Zeus and Persephone and he was the Greek god of fertility and wine. Many festivals, including the Lesser and Greater Dionysian festivals, and celebrations which included music, drinking, and dancing were held in his honor. These festivals are also associated with the developement of the ancient Greek theatre and Dionysus is recognized as a patron of the arts. The Romans called this god Bacchus.
2006-07-17 23:25:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dionysus was a demigod who was celebrated as a god of fertility, rebirth, wine, and song; the myths about him are the precursors of the Jesus/savior icon, along with Prometheus. Dionysus is the child of Zeus, and a mortal, and thus does not live forever on Mount Olympus.
2006-07-17 23:24:22 · answer #3 · answered by taishar68 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dionysus was the Thracian god of wine and is also known as Bacchus in Greek and Roman mythology.
2006-07-21 01:47:40 · answer #4 · answered by Hidden 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dionysus was the God of wine and sex.
2006-07-17 23:23:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The dionysos was the god of wine
2006-07-17 23:22:46 · answer #6 · answered by stratisnj 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was also the god of drama...
2006-07-17 23:56:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋