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Questions tagged [dionysus]

Questions about about or related to the Greek god of wine, son of Zeus, Dionysus

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Why did Dionysus change his mother's name?

Semele was the mortal mother of Zeus' son Dionysus. She was tricked by the jealous Hera and she ends up dying. Dionysus survived, but when he grew older, he was concerned for his mother and retrieved her from the Underworld: Dionysus feared for…
logic
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Importance of Dionysos/Bacchus in Orphism

How did Dionysus/Bacchus become the central figure of Orphism, given the relatively modest importance he has in classical Greek and Roman mythology? From a semi-god of Wine in the latter, he becomes in the former the central character of a…
plannapus
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Are there Christian influences in the Dionysiaca?

Two works by Nonnus of Panopolis survive to this day: The Dionysiaca, an epic poem about the life of Dionysus, The Paraphrase of John, a rewording of the Gospel of John. This is a rare example of an ancient author producing works in different…
yannis
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What did the Thebans do to cause the wrath of Dionysus?

Pausanias tells the legend of the Teumessian fox, a fox destined never to be caught sent by Dionysus to destroy Thebes, the god's birthplace according to the Zeus and Semele narrative: 9.19.1 On this highway is a place called Teumessus, where it is…
yannis
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Which version of the Ariadne Myth was written/told first?

Ariadne was a daughter of Minos. She helped Theseus traverse the labyrinth in exchange to be taken with him away. In one version, Dionysus tells Theseus that he wants Ariadne and to leave her on an island. In another, Theseus plain out abandons her…
Andrew Johnson
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Dionysus sacrifice for humanity

I have read that there are parallels between Greek mythology of Dionysus' sacrifice to humanity and Christian belief surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus. What mythology is there concerning Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, and any sacrifice he may…
Sylva
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What is the story of Dionysus' shipwreck?

Dionysus Shipwrecked is a lost comedy, written either by Aristophanes or by Archippus. Regardless of authorship, the title suggests the play revolved around a story of Dionysus being shipwrecked. Has that story survived in any other form? Do we know…
yannis
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How crazy are the Maenads from Greek Mythology?

I have read about the Maenads, how they were insane followers of the god Dionysus, that their names literally meant "the raving ones" and that they were frequently in a state of ecstatic intoxication. Are there any tales about them doing activities…
Tyler Mc
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What/Which minor gods/spirits are associated with Dionysus?

I know of: Gelos (divine personification of laughter) Comus (god of festivities, revels, and late-night hookups) - Agathodaemon (daemon of vinyards and grainfields). Are there any others?
Andrew Johnson
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How do Dionysus and Jesus relate?

I was reading Dan Brown and found out that Dionysus's birthday (I assume 2nd birth from Zeus's calf) is the same as Jesus. What similarities do they share other than this?
Andrew Johnson
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Story of Dionysus being slaughtered as a bull-calf and eaten by the Titans?

The story appears to be a variant of the sparagmos of the Orphic Zagreus, with the difference being that Dionysus was in bull-calf form when he was slaughtered. Wikipedia mentions the story (1, 2), referencing this paragraph in Walter Burkert's…
yannis
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Why was Dionysus, a dying and rising god, called thrice-born?

Of the many epithets used to describe Dionysus in Orphic Hymn XXIX, thrice begotten ("τρίγονον" in the original) stands out: Bacchus I call, loud-sounding and divine, Fanatic God, a two-fold shape is thine: Thy various names and attributes I…
yannis
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Which Greek gods are part of the 12 Olympians?

In most internet sources it says Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena, Apollo, and Artemis are always considered to be Olympians and either Hestia or Dionysus is added to the list. Hades is not considered an…
user7198
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Dionysos saving Ariadne by marrying her - source?

I am wondering whether there is a classical source for this version of what happens when Theseus abandons Ariadne at Naxos: -- Theseus and Ariadne fall asleep on the island, but Dionysos shows himself to Theseus (in flesh or in a dream) and tells…
Heccy
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