DIONYSUS: A God of Many Pleasures

Dionysus: A God of many pleasures

Dionysus was a youthful god. His other title was Bacchus. He was a noisy and rowdy god. He's described as being "womanly". Dionysus was the insipration behind tragic art. He is a protector of the theatres.

Dionysus is the Greek god of wine, vegetation, pleasure, and festivity. His appearance is either shown long-bearded and old, or dainty, youthful and long-haired.

Dionysus was commonly pictured with a pine-coned tipped staff, a leopard, a drinking cup, and a fruiting vine.

Female devotees were usually pictured with him.

The myths of Dinoysus:

• birth from the thigh of Zeus
• the flight from Lykourgos who drove him and his followers to the sea
• dismemberment of Pentheus who denied the god's divinity
• instruction of Ikarios in winemaking
• metamorphosis of the Tyrrhenian pirates into dolphins because of an attempted kidnap
• his love for Ariadne who he found abandoned by Theseus
• journey to the underworld to recover his mother or wife
• campaign against the Indians

Most greek plays were written to be performed on the feast day of Dionysus. All who participated in the plays, (actors, spectators, and writers) were seen as faithful servants of Dionysus.