DIONYSUS:

 The Greek God of Parties, Wine, Fertility, Pleasure, Ecstacy,& Agriculture

 ^[1]

Birth Myths:

     One myth is that Dionysus is the son of Zeus and the mortal woman Semele. While Dionysus was still in Semele's womb, Zeus struck her with his lightening bolts and killed her, but Zeus spared the fetus and then puts him in his thigh to develop further. Once born, Zeus hands Dionysus off to nymphs to care for the young god.

     Another myth is that he was the son of Zeus and was conceived by Persephone, Queen of the Underworld.  Using toys and rattles, she lures the baby god to a few Titans who then eat and rip him to shreds until only his heart remains.  Then, Artemis saves the heart and gives it to Zeus, who then proceeds to recreate the god and implants him into the mortal woman Semele. Since in both of these stories he is born twice, he is often referred to as "the twice born god."

     Zeus's wife, Hera, was jealous of his affair in both myths, so she vowed to hunt Dionysus down.  In order to prevent this from happening, Zeus gave up the young Dionysus to water nymphs, and told them to bring him up as a girl in order to hide him from Hera.  Because of this, Dionysus is often perceived as a very womanly male in Greek art.^[2]

Myths:

       When Dionysus returns to his birthplace in Thebes, he goes to his cousin Pentheus, who is king at the time.  The god tells his brother that he is a god and demands to be worshipped by the people of Thebes.  Pentheus denies this request, which enrages the divine partygoer. Using his powers to manipulate the women of the land, they start to worship him anyway. He then lures his cousin into the woods, where his group of female followers, including Pentheus's own mother, proceed to rip him apart and mutilate him.  This story not only tells of his tremendous powers of influence over mortals, it also shows that he shows no mercy on even his family.  After his cult and religion is solidly founded, he ascends to the Heavens.^[3]

Symbols:

     The main symbol of Dionysus is grapes, because he was supposedly the first to make wine.^[4]

Parents:

     Father- Zeus

     Mother- Semele or Persephone (depending on the Myth)^[5]

A Closing Quote about Dionysus:

     "The goddess Demeter - she is the earth, but call her whatever name you wish; she nourishes mortals with dry food; but he who came afterwards, the offspring of Semele, discovered a match to it, the liquid drink of the grape, and introduced it to mortals. It releases wretched mortals from grief, whenever they are filled with the stream of the vine, and gives them sleep, a means of forgetting their daily troubles, nor is there another cure for hardships. He who is a god is poured out in offerings to the gods, so that by his means men may have good things." - Euripides, Bacchae 275