Dionysus :: essays research papers

DionysusDionysus was the most widely worshipped and popular divinity in ancientGreece. Its not difficult to see why he was their god of wine, merriment,ritual dance, warm moisture, and later, civilization. He was often depicted asa handsome young man, dressed in fawnskin, and carrying a goblet and an ivy-covered staff. slightly myths hold that Dionysus was the son of Zeus--the king of the god--and Persephone--queen of the underworld--but most myths state that he is the sonof Zeus and a mortal woman named Semel. This woman Semele was not any mortal,though. She was a princess, and a beautiful one at that. Zeus was notoriousfor being rather prolific, and when his wife, the goddess Hera heard that he hadgone off and mated with a mortal, she became sooner upset. Hera, in an attemptto exact her revenge, appeared to Semele and told her to ask Zeus to appear toher in his divine form. When Zeus obliged, Semele was immediately consumed inflames, for no mortal can weigh upon a god in his nat ural state. However, Zeussaved the unborn Dionysus by sewing him up in his thigh, thus incubating him.What happened next is different in every story. Some myths say he livedwith a king and queen loyal to Zeus until Hera discovered him, and, in a jealousrage, warped their brains. In this version of the story, Dionysus was turnedinto a goat by his father in an attempt to hide him from Hera from then on hehad small horns on his head. later on he was safe, he went to live with the nymphs, who taught him tomake wine. Hera eventually found him again, and this time she also warped hisbrain. The nymphs rejected him, and he went to live with the satyrs, who weremen with goat legs and horns, and their draw Silenus. Dionysus traveled withthe satyrs, who disgusted everyone they encountered with their rude, drunkenbehavior.Silenus is usually portrayed as a fat drunken man who rides on an ass.He was once captured by baron Midas. When Dionysus intervened, Midas freedSilenus in exchange for the p ower to turn all he touched into gold. Dionysusand his band eventually encountered the maenads. The maenads were a group ofwild, warlike creatures. They were horribly vicious, and unfortunately, theywere also unbelievably stupid. They started quite a few unsuccessful wars againstkingdoms in Africa.When Zeus finally found Dionysus again, he returned his mind to normal.However, Dionysus refused to give up his unruly traveling companions.