Dionysus
by CTCWeb Editors
Bacchus
The rituals associated with Dionysus are often called the “Bacchic” rituals. These rituals often lead to violence and madness due to the loss of inhibitions cause by the wine which the participants consume. The violent nature of the rituals shows itself in the acts of Dionysus as well. Students should investigate the violence and madness associated with the Bacchic rituals as well as Bacchus himself.
To get the investigation started, students should look at the following information to begin to piece together the facts.
Apollodorus Note 3.5.3.b.
Euripides, Bacchae lines 105-119 - The chorus describes the proper dress, crowns and dances to do during a Bacchic revelry. Crowns of oak or pine should be worn along with the skin of spotted fawns and all should proceed to the top of a mountain.
Euripides, Bacchae lines 677ff. - A messenger describes the violent Bacchic frenzy of the Bacchae. Euripides, Bacchae lines 1084ff. - The messenger describes the destruction of Pentheus by the Bacchae on the order of Dionysus whom they recognize as Bacchus.
Pausanias 2.2.6 - Wooden images of Dionysus are called Lysius and Baccheus.
Plato, Laws, 672b - The Athenian explains why Dionysus brought the Bacchic rites and wine to mankind. His judgment was robbed as a result of his jealous stepmother’s rage, his stepmother being Hera.
Sophocles Antigone 150, 1120. Sophocles Oedipus Tyrannus 210. Sophocles Trachiniae 220, 510, 700.
Acts of Violence and Madness
Apollodorus 3.5.1-3 - Dionysus proving to men that he is a god, causes murder, dismemberment and tearing apart of children.
Apollodorus 3.14.7 - When Icarius learned how to make wine from Dionysus the men who he shared it with killed him thinking they have been poisoned.
Euripides, Bacchae line 366 - Tiereisias calls Bacchus (Dionysus) savage but he says that it is necessary to join him.
Pausanias 4.31.4 - Mount Eva is said to have obtained its name from the Bacchic cry of Evoe, first uttered by Dionysus and his attendant women.
Pausanias 7.21.1 - the Calydonians at once became raving as though through drink during a ritual for Dionysus.
Pausanias 10.32.7 - The Thyiad women rave on Mount Parnassus in honor of Dionysus.
Pausanias 9.8.2 - Once the ritual participants grew so violent with wine that they actually killed the priest of Dionysus.
Questions
1. Are Bacchus and Dionysus one in the same?
2. Why is it that women are mostly associated with the violent acts of the Bacchic ritual?
3. The violence associated with wine started with its introduction. What does this say about the Greek view of wine?
4. Wine is used in many other rituals. Why does the use of wine at Dionysus’ rituals involve violence?
5. How does madness compare to drunkenness?
