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Dionysus - Mythology.

Publié le 26/01/2014

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Dionysus - Mythology. Greek A fertility god, god of vegetation, especially the vine, god of wine and later of the pleasures of civilization. Son of Zeus; his mother is variously thought to be Semele, Demeter, Persephone, or Io, Dione, or Lethe. The most common myth identifies his mother as Semele. The Romans called him Bacchus. In early times, Dionysus was associated with orgiastic rites and generally wild behavior. As the cultivation of grape vines spread throughout Greece, so did the worship of Dionysus and the ensuing orgies, called Dionysian or Bacchic festivals. Later, however, Dionysus was also celebrated as a cultivator of the soil, a lawgiver, a peacemaker, and a patron of tragic art. Among his followers were the centaurs, maenads, satyrs, and sileni, all of whom were depicted in ancient art as enthusiastically--sometimes frighteningly-- demented, carrying staffs and wearing animal skins and crowns of ivy and grape leaves. The young Dionysus was not honored as a god and he was forced to flee from Greece. He traveled through Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa. Many adventures marked his passage as he spread his knowledge of the cultivation of the vine and the making of wine. Dionysus learned to use the divine power he had inherited from his father, Zeus. He inspired devotion, especially among women, and finally returned to Greece in triumph as a true god. Apollo, the beautiful god of the arts, admitted Dionysus to his shrine at Delphi. Thus Dionysus joined the Olympian gods. The acceptance of Dionysus into Greece after many struggles may refer to the conflict between old and new religions in the ancient world. Dionysus represents the ancient cult of the spirit of nature and fertility. It found expression in human sacrifice, nature worship, and orgiastic rites. Apollo represents the Dorians and other migrants who invaded peninsular Greece. These newcomers brought with them their own gods and cults but learned to accept the ancient deities and rites. Dionysus was often depicted as a seminude, youthful god, his head crowned with vine leaves and grapes, and carrying a goblet of wine in one hand and a staff topped with a pinecone in the other. In earlier art, he was shown as a mature, bearded man crowned with ivy. The Birth of Dionysus Though the identity of Dionysus's mother is in doubt, the most common myth identifies her as Semele. Zeus had come down to Earth disguised as a mortal. He wooed and won Semele. Hera, the wife of Zeus, was jealous. When Semele was six months pregnant, Hera, disguised as an old nurse, persuaded Semele to ask Zeus to reveal himself in his true form. This she did. At first Zeus refused Semele's request, but he finally presented himself in all his glory as a mighty god, flashing lightning and hurling thunderbolts. No mortal could withstand such power, and Semele perished in flames. Zeus snatched the unborn child from the fire and sewed it into his thigh so that it could mature for another three months. In due course, Zeus gave birth to a boy, Dionysus, who is sometimes called Dithyrambus (Child of the Double Door), referring to his two births, once from his mother's body and again from his father's body. Some scholars believe that this myth represents Zeus asserting his power over mortals by killing Semele and taking her child under his protection. The Childhood of Dionysus Zeus entrusted the care of his newborn child to Semele's sister, Ino, or perhaps to the Nymphs or Mount Nysa. Although her rival, Semele, was dead, Hera was still jealous; she transferred her hatred to Dionysus. Hera caused the child's foster parents to become insane, but Dionysus survived their madness, and Zeus gave him to Hermes to take to the nymphs of Nysa, which may have been a mountain near Helicon, the highest point in Boeotia, or a purely imaginary spot. The nymphs were bacchants. They took good care of the child and Dionysus grew to manhood in Nysa. Hera's hatred of Dionysus and his mother may reflect conservative opposition to the ritual use of wine and the extravagant orgies of the Bacchants and Maenads. Dionysus was eventually admitted to Olympus.

« all his glory as a mighty god, flashing lightning and hurling thunderbolts.

No mortal could withstand such power, and Semele perished in flames.

Zeus snatched the unborn child from the fire and sewed it into his thigh so that it could mature for another three months. In due course, Zeus gave birth to a boy, Dionysus, who is sometimes called Dithyrambus (Child of the Double Door), referring to his two births, once from his mother’s body and again from his father’s body. Some scholars believe that this myth represents Zeus asserting his power over mortals by killing Semele and taking her child under his protection. The Childhood of Dionysus Zeus entrusted the care of his newborn child to Semele’s sister, Ino, or perhaps to the Nymphs or Mount Nysa.

Although her rival, Semele, was dead, Hera was still jealous; she transferred her hatred to Dionysus.

Hera caused the child’s foster parents to become insane, but Dionysus survived their madness, and Zeus gave him to Hermes to take to the nymphs of Nysa, which may have been a mountain near Helicon, the highest point in Boeotia, or a purely imaginary spot.

The nymphs were bacchants.

They took good care of the child and Dionysus grew to manhood in Nysa. Hera’s hatred of Dionysus and his mother may reflect conservative opposition to the ritual use of wine and the extravagant orgies of the Bacchants and Maenads. Dionysus was eventually admitted to Olympus.. »

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