15,697
edits
Changes
no edit summary
====The meaning of the myths of Dionysus====
[[File: Dionysus three.jpg|200px|thumb|left| Depiction of Dionysus and his followers from an Attic Vase]]
The stories about the god of wine and wine-making held several important concepts in Greek and Roman society. The first was restraint; while wine and celebration were important, it should be done with restraint. Self-control was greatly valued in Classical society. Dionysus taught people that they needed to use wine and other pleasures cautiously. It was perfectly acceptable to have fun, but not too much. Another important concept promoted in Dionysus's myth was that the gods had to be respected and honored, even if they were seen as alien and threatening. In the Classical world, divinities were worshipped because of their power and not because they were good or noble. Dionysus represented the principle of transformation and transgression. The myths about God were concerned with this concept and could be a positive and a negative thing. In the stories told about God, the ancients were taught to accept the transformation and danger. Like wine, the god could loosen inhibitions, which could be positive, as was the case with music and celebrations. However, it could also be dangerous and could lead to violence. The fables of Zeus and Semele's son 's fables taught Greeks that they could be inhibited but not too much and that they could transgress but should still respect social norms .<ref>Henrichs, Albert. "Dionysus." In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics. (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2015) </ref>. It seems that one One aspect of Dionysus became more important over time and that he came to be seen as mainly a god of rebirth. This was because he was shown in the myths to have been brought back to life at least twice, once after he was torn apart by the Titans and the other time when he descended into Hades, the realm of the dead, and survived. Because of this, he was believed to possess the secrets of resurrection. The Bacchic Mystery religion provided rituals that allowed individuals to become initiated into the secret knowledge of Dionysus. The exact nature of this mystery religion is unknown. Those initiated into the cult seemed to have believed that they would be reborn or to go to a paradise after death <ref>Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth (eds) The Oxford Classical Dictionary(Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2015)</ref>.
====The cultural significance of the God of Wine====
One of Dionysus's many roles in Greek mythology was that he was the god of theatre and drama. He was the deity of transformation. This was synonymous in Greek minds with theatre. They believed that the actor was inspired and altered during their roles by God. Theatre emerged as part of the Dionysia in Athens. During the celebrations of the god, plays were staged based on mythology to honor him. Over time, they became more sophisticated, and poets began to write verse dramas. During the 5th century AD, great poets, such as Euripides, Aeschylus, Aristophanes, and Sophocles, used these plays to raise important social, political, and philosophical issues .<ref>Otto, Walter Friedrich. Dionysus: myth and cult (Indiana, Indiana University Press, 1995), p. 134</ref>. Greek tragedy and comedy emerged out of celebrations dedicated to God, and it was critical in the development of modern drama. As we have seen, Dionysus's cult was unusual. He played a major role in the mystery religions. Many believe that these mystery cults, with their emphasis on emphasizing a personal relationship with a god and salvation, may have influenced Christianity's development. In his work, the German Philosopher Nietzsche used Dionysian's concept to explain the importance of the irrational, emotional , and instinctual in art and life .<ref> Nietzsche, Friedrich. The Birth of Tragedy (London, Pelican, 1987), p 78</ref>. The term is now often used in critical works on art and literature.
====Conclusion====
Dionysus was the god of wine and all it represented in the Greek mind. He was the divinity of excess, transformation, and the irrational. The Classical World, unlike the modern world, recognized these forces and sought to manage and harness them. Dionysus was often the representative of the darker side but the Greeks, but yet they honored him. The myths of Dionysus showed how Greeks, not the benefits of excess but rather moderation.
====Further Reading====
====References====
<references/>
[[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:Ancient Greek History]] [[Category:Myths and Gods]]