The Birth of Dionysus

Father Zeus fell in love with His daughter Persephone and amorously pursued Her. The affair continued for several years before Hera became suspicious of Her husband's actions. She would often ask Him why he ventured to the Underworld so often. The dank dark depths of that place were hardly suitable for His shinning brilliance. Zeus answered saying things like He was visiting Hades or He was tending to the shades in Elysium. None of these answers seemed to add up so Hera followed Her heavenly husband one day. 

In the disguise of an old matron Hera trailed Zeus into the Underworld. The dismal souls left on the shores of the Styx discomforted Her greatly. Eventually She followed Zeus all the way up to the Palace of Hades. The great black spires rose up from the rocky landscape like nails ran through a thin board. Hera watched as Zeus sneaked to the courtyard where Persephone kept Her orchards. Very carefully Hera hid Herself behind a pillar and just watched. At first nothing seemed to be amiss. Zeus was just standing their admiring the delicate blooms that gave Persephone comfort in Her martial prison. Then suddenly Persephone appeared garbed in a pink gown. The two then lied together and Persephone conceived. Hera was furious over this but She knew She could not openly contest Zeus's actions or punish Persephone for giving in to His advances. Instead Hera swore to seek vengeance upon the product of Their secret union. 

In the following spring just before Persephone left to rejoin Her mother on earth the Goddess gave birth. The child came out easily and with a brilliant glow. He carried on his head two small horns and a crown of serpents. The smell of fresh pine permeated the air around Him. Persephone named Her child Zagreus or Great Hunter. Zagreus instantly became the pride of Olympus but to conceal His true parentage Persephone claimed that the child was of Hades and no other. 

All the Gods gave Him various gifts to mark His birth. Zeus even named the child heir of Olympus and sat Him upon the throne garbed in royal attire. This greatly angered Hera. Not only had the child been a product of one of Zeus's affairs but now He was lined up to rule over Her and the rest of the Gods. But She had a plan and would soon commence it. 

She stole away once again to the Palace of Hades but this time to visit Her dark brother. She told Him about Persephone and Zeus's treachery and how the child Zagreus was not His. This angered the usually cold and solemn Hades. He asked Hera what She would have Him do. Hera replied asking Her brother for the keys to Tartarus that way She might free the Titans to slay Zagreus. Hades gladly gave Her the keys and off She went. Once the Titans were properly motivated Hera sent them after the child Zagreus. They lured Him off the throne with a rattle and wooden bull. After that the Titans pounced upon the child and devoured His flesh. In the end all but Zagreus's heart was destroyed. 

This event filled Zeus with a rage never before seen in the Cosmos. He grabbed His lightning bolts and dawned His golden armor before chasing down the murderous Titans. He then with the help of Athena and Hermes slew them all in the most painful heinous of ways. Once the battle ended Athena took the heart and gave it back to Her father. He hid it away in His thigh for many years. From the ashes of this great battle Prometheus crafted the first humans. They would have in them the divinity of Zagreus the purest of Gods and the barbarism of the cruel Titans.

Zeus began to court the Princess Semele of Thebes late in the winter and in her He planted the heart of Zagreus. The earth was still frozen and the nights long but the warmth of the divine child growing inside her gave Semele a certain cheer in those dreary months. Eventually the snow receded and Apollo returned from His Ethiopian abode to warm the land once more. Semele left the palace to go meet her love in the mountain groves surrounding Thebes. She walked through the pine woods listening to the songs of the birds and the chatter of the squirrels. Once she reached her destination Zeus came down to her in the form of a dazzling youth with sharp blue eyes and near silver hair. The two laid together surrounded by the sounds and smells of the awakening earth. Little did the two know that Hera sat nearby watching and scheming. The Goddess decided to avenge Her honor by punishing Semele and the product of her womb in one fatal stroke.

The next day Hera disguised Herself as Berenice Semele's most trusted friend. Hera went to Semele and asked her why she was so happy even through the darkest of winter. Semele's heart was so full of joy and love that she had to tell someone about her immortal lover. Semele told Hera everything that had transpired since Zeus first took interest in her. She even told her that she believed she was pregnant. It was this minor confirmation that gave Hera the sign to continue with Her plan. Hera skeptically refuted what Semele said. She told Semele that if Zeus was truly her lover than she should ask Him to give her a sign. Distraught Semele left that palace in search of Zeus. 

In the woods Zeus went to her. He did his best to comfort the princess but nothing seemed to work. Because of this Zeus made a fateful vow. He promised by the Styx that He would give anything to Semele that she asked of Him. This finally stopped Semele's sorrow.

Later that night Hera went to Semele in her dreams. The Goddess planted more seeds of doubt in the princess's heart. Semele jolted up and ran to Berenice's room but before she got there Hera possessed the servant. Semele asked Berenice what she should do to prove that her lover truly was Zeus. Hera told her to do as her dreams advised and ask to see His true form. Eventually Semele relented to the idea and decided to seek Zeus out the next day. 

She found her lover sitting on a rock near the top of a stony hill. She went to Him and reminded Him of His vow. Then she asked Him to reveal His true form to Her and squelch any doubt that lived in her heart. Zeus knowing that this would cause the death of His beloved Semele begged her to choose something else. Sadly Semele refused and kept pushing the matter. Zeus could not resist her anymore and took off His fleshy disguise. The brightness and heat that radiated off from Father Zeus scorched Semele's body. Zeus managed to save His unborn child from Semele's womb before her death.

Zeus gave the child to Hermes and ordered Him to carry it off to Naxos far beyond the reach of Hera where Selinous could raise the boy in peace. Hermes did as ordered. The child was called Dionysus and He grew up to be a handsome young boy. The nymphs who cared for Him as a child soon found themselves infatuated by His beauty and charm. Dionysus grew up in the tutelage of the satyrs nymphs and of course old Selinous. Eventually the young god would discover wine and leave Naxos in search of His identity and origins but those are stories for another time. 

Poem to Dionysus II

The vines grow swiftly from their frozen tomb

The beast of burden toils under the pale moon

The slave is whipped without complaint

The wife is beaten shown no restraint

The beggar starves in the dusty street

The prisoner awaits his gods to meet

The innocents flee as their homes are burned

The man awards himself the death he’s “earned”

Their flesh is bloodied aged and torn

But their souls hope and await their Lord

For these are the children of the Mad God

He calls to them with His great ivy rod

Release from burned pain anguish and lies

Are His free gifts to all not just the wise

Eove! Eove! Eove!

Orpheus and Eurydice

This myth is nearest and dearest to my heart. It is about love and how far one would go for their loved one.

Orpheus was the son of either the Muse of epic poetry Calliope with either Apollo or the Thracian King Oeargus. Regardless of his father's identity Orpheus led a truly blessed life. He was gifted with a voice and musical talent that could subdue anything including the Gods. When he played a love song the trees and mountains would quake in joy. Likewise when sad tunes departed his holy voice and lyre all the world would weep. Nothing could escape the trance inducing melodies creeping from his golden voice. Orpheus was often seen in the company of the shy nymphs playing wondrous songs for their pleasure. In their company the young minstrel met all sorts of beings including the Gods. Orpheus eventually reached adulthood and met a maiden name Eurydice. They two fell madly in love with each other. Often times they would venture into the woods and mountains to play music and dance. They rejoiced in life and each other's company. Alas on their wedding night tragedy came. Eurydice was picking flowers in the woods when a satyr spied her. He began to chase the young maiden until she finally tripped and was bitten by a poisonous snake. Orpheus fell apart at the news. His once joyous tunes of love and hope turned sour with the sting of death. No longer did the trees and winds dance in his presence. No longer did the nymphs and Graces dance to his beats. All that was left of the once happy man was a hollow husk full of the tortured thoughts of one left behind. Orpheus decided that he would venture into the Underworld and ask the cold king Hades and his dark queen Persephone to release his wife or at least allow him to lie in the earth with her. He began his descent thorough a cave. To give himself solace and voice his plea he began to play. His music was so sad and so moving that the shades of the long dead ancestors began to weep and wale. They were reminded of their own feelings of death and sadness when Thantos jerked them away from their own loved ones. Charon the ferryman of the Styx even felt the music. He allowed Orpheus to be the one and only living mortal to cross the river on his boat. Next Orpheus came to the cave of Cerberus the terrible three headed hell hound with a poisonous viper for a tale. Even this ferocious beast could not resist the mournful songs of a tortured soul. The great hound laid down and whimpered like a new born pup. Orpheus came to the Orchards of Persephone and there the Furies nested. The three enforcers of the Gods' retribution would go out and punish the most wretched of crimes. They are no strangers to terror and pain yet the lyre stirred something in their empty chests. Pity overtook them and they allowed Orpheus to pass unharmed. Finally he was at the gates of the Palace of Hades. He entered without a single fear. He was determined to either bring back his beloved Eurydice or remain in Hades with her. The unseen one and his bride were sitting on their black thrones when he entered. He then sang his most mournful and well written song. It told the story of two loved ones separated too soon. One left to toil on the earth in misery while the other was left in the dark damp abode of the dead. It told of a world that wept for her return and a god who could decide her fate. This story must have touched Persephone who was in a way a Eurydice held captive by her husband Hades. She wept profusely for the broken hearted lovers. Her husband the most unemotional cold strict god of them all shed a tear. He allowed Orpheus to take his wife from her dark home back to the light of the world of the living on one condition. Orpheus could not turn back to look at her until they had both reached the light of day. So the two ventured forth past the Furies past Cerberus and past Charon. All the while Orpheus felt suspicion. He was unsure if she was behind him and he was unsure it the unseen god had tricked him. His doubts began to subside when he saw the mouth of the cave so he hurried forward. He broke through the darkness and into the light of the day. When he did not hear his beloved wife he turned around ready to curse the Gods for playing a cruel joke. But as he turned he saw the shade of his wife ready to take that last step out of the Underworld and into the world of the living. She looked at him with a face no of sadness. No for she knew now of the true depths of her lover and she knew that they would one day be reunited. She waved goodbye and smiled before she was sucked back into Hades. Orpheus was enraged and tried to run back into the cave but found that he could not enter. Hades would not allow Orpheus to reenter his dominion until it was his proper time. The second loss of his wife hurled Orpheus into a deeper state of depression. He would throw himself into reckless situations in an attempt to get himself killed. One of these situation was joining a young Argonite named Jason in a wild goose chase for the Golden Fleece. However Fate would not take Orpheus yet. In an attempt to spare others the torment he had endured Orpheus began the Dionysian cults of Greece. He taught mortals about the immortality of spirit and how to free ourselves from pain and death. Dionysus could still feel the pain in his high priest. He frenzied his Maenads and had them turn on Orpheus. As the wild women cut and tore at the minstrel Fate released him and he journeyed back to his beloved Eurydice.

Inspiring Video

This video inspired me so I figured I'd share it with everyone. It truly explains all that is Dionysus in a very creative and artistic way. I hope you all enjoy it.

Poem to Dionysus

Here is an old poem I wrote as an offering to Dionysus. 

Wild Pan play your chords in joyous tones
And may all rejoice for the return of the light
Call the Bacchae forth to these sacred stones
Be merry for He causes oppression to take flight


Dionysos Trigonos our triple formed king
His compassion is infinite so let us drink and sing
His sword shall destroy all inhibitions so be free
Toss aside your chains to come revel with me


Feel no pain of heart nor mind nor body
For Dionysos Manikos walks among us mortals
Allow His gifts of ecstasy to open new portals
And lose yourself in His untempered orgy


Dionysos Lusios we remember Your story
And on this night we seek Your glory

Dionysus and Pentheus

During His travels Dionysus ended up, in Thebes His ancestral home. He rightly expected to be welcomed back into the family of His beloved mother but He was wrong. The old king and father of Semele, Cadmus, had abdicated the throne. In his stead the nephew of Semele son of Agave ruled and his name was Pentheus. Pentheus was a very traditional, stoic ruler. He banished the seer Tiresias from Thebes calling him a fanciful lunatic. If Pentheus could not accept Tiresias how would he accept the wild rites of Dionysus this new god. Dionysus and His band of maenads arrived in Thebes while Pentheus was away in the countryside. It took no time at all for the freedom giving worship of Dionysus to spread like wild fire in the hearts of the oppressed Thebans. Almost everyone joined in on the celebrations including Cadmus and Agave. Tiresias returned to Thebes to join the festivities and worship the new god Dionysus. A few days later Pentheus returned and he was furious. He ordered the worshipers of Dionysus to be locked up and Dionysus Himself was to be executed the following day. Pentheus even went as far as to deny the divinity of Dionysus. In the jail the guards were amazed at how their shackles and even prison doors could not hold the new god. These tools of bondage simply fell apart in His presence. Not knowing what to do, the guards took Dionysus to Pentheus. Pentheus spat at Dionysus and called Him a cheap magician but Dionysus did not lash back. Instead the new god told Pentheus His story and told him that if he continued to insult and deny His worship then harm would befall him. Pentheus ignored Dionysus and ordered his guards to just keep watch over Dionysus instead of tying him to the wall and locking the door. Just before dawn there was a powerful earthquake and the walls of the prison fell. All the worshipers of Dionysus and Dionysus Himself escaped the prison and went into the mountains. Pentheus was even angrier than before with Dionysus and the lot. He decided to dawn the dress and wreath of maenad in order to get close enough to kill Dionysus and prove once and for all that He is just a mortal man. Pentheus crept up on the camp and watched from a bush as the women and men drank, danced,  and sang. He didn't see Dionysus at first but then around midnight the god appeared. His wild, unpredictable energy showed in His eyes but also you could see the sweetness and love the God had for the oppressed. Much like a bull and a mother Dionysus was strong and loving. Pentheus's anger blinded him to the soothing energy of Dionysus. He crept in closer and closer then once he was close enough to stab Dionysus and pulled out his sword. Dionysus was stabbed in the heart and fell to the ground but in that instant insanity took the worshipers. They turned on Pentheus and devoured him there under the pines. Everyone including Agave partook in this. Despite the horrible death of Pentheus it is said that he died laughing and shouting out "Look! Look he is no god!" After the madness left the maenads Agave found herself covered in her own sons blood. She mourned for days until she realized that Pentheus chose his path and that at least now he has peace in the Underworld instead of hate with her.

Lessons from the story

I just have to say that rewriting the myths gives you a much greater understanding than simply reading them. 

-Anger blinds us to the gifts of the Gods especially Dionysus 

-All the Gods are deserving of respect and worship

-Dionysus is best felt by the oppressed

Liberalia

Liberalia is traditionally a holiday to celebrate the first wine of the year and mark the passing of childhood for young Roman men. This ancient holiday involved wine libations to Liber Pater (Dionysus) and the destruction of bullae charms given to males upon birth to guard them from malice. The mother would collect this charm and set it on the household altar as an offering to the Lares Penates and Genius of the family. In addition games were held and upper class families would often return to the fields and work the land for a day. Another groups of citizens celebrated at this time were the bee keepers. There is a Roman myth about how Dionysus taught the satyr Silenus to use mud when gathering honey from hives. Because of this women would bake honey cakes and offer them to the God in His temples. 

Now I lack many of the things that the Romans had during this festival. To compensate for this I wrote my own schedule and rituals to guide me through the three day of the LIberalia. I celebrated Dionysus in His three form Phanes Zagreus and Dionysus.

On the first night I created an altar of white and black to symbolize Phanes and His wife Nyx who created the Cosmos. In the center of this altar I put a large white candle and then recited the story of creation.

"In the beginning there was but Chaos Time and Compulsion

However a spark was born a light to bring order and warmth

Phanes who's wings shone like the rising sun

Phanes who's words ordered the Heavens to be still

Phanes who's love brought forth life to a desolate place

In His loneliness He forged Himself a wife as black as night

Along with Nyx the Cosmic Egg was created and hatched

Male and female light and dark warmth and cold

Peace and love would not last for the Titans waged war

Patricide was on their minds and evil in their hearts

All seemed dark until Zeus sought recompense for His father's sins

Olympians and Titans fought all the while destroying the Cosmos

Through the blood and sweat the Olympians were victorious

Yet They were left to reign over an empty world

Zeus King of the Gods searched for a solution to this dilemma 

Phanes who's mercy recreated the world had the answer

He willingly sacrificed Himself to be a part of the new world

Zeus consumed the God and with Him His power"

On the second night I celebrated Zagreus in His raw primal power. I tossed pine ivy and dogwood flowers all across the room and altar. Around midnight I opened the first bottle of wine this year and poured a libation to Dionysus then the household gods. After that I drank some myself and dawned my vine wreath. About an hour later I began my ecstasia dancing. That combine with the chanting let me reach trance rather quickly. At about 3a.m. I began the Bloody Feast after reciting the story of Zagrus. (I'll spare you another long winded verse) From there I just continued celebrating and basking in Zagreus's greatness. 

The third and final night was in honor of Dionysus. I prayed to the God and offered libations of wine. This night was mostly full of contemplation and the such. I also recited some of my favorite lines from literary works. Needless to say a lot of Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde was quoted that night. 


Gods bless

The Bloody Feast

With Liberalia approaching (March 16-19) I feel Dionysus's presence more and more. Traditionally this festival was a celebration of young Roman boys putting on the toga of an adult and becoming a man. Since I am past that age I will be celebrating Dionysus in his three forms Creator Savior Liberator.


On the second day, the day in celebration of Zagreus, I will partake in the Bloody Feast. This is a reenactment of baby Zagreus being torn apart by the treacherous Titans. The ancient devotees of Dionysus would go out into the woods or mountains to find some wild place hidden from curious eyes. There they would plunge a staff into the ground and tie a cord near the top of the staff. They would then take the cord and mark out a circle with the staff standing at the center. This circle marked the edge of the sacred space that would be used during the rituals. Later that night a congregation of devotees would assemble outside of the city or town. They would wear masks resembling various gods, nature spirits, and literary characters. Each member would be given a torch and wine glass. Within the procession would be various offerings and a few animals. One of these animals would become the sacrifice used during the Bloody Feast. At sunset the procession would make their way to the sacred ground and the rites would begin. At some point during the night, when most of the worshipers are in trance, a bull or goat would be brought to the center. The worshipers would turn on the beast and devour it.


Any of us who have read our mythology know the stories of the Maenads attacking both man and beast in an ecstatic frenzy. King Pentheus of Thebes is one of the most famous victims. He challenged Dionysus and tried to prevent His worship. Dionysus warned Pentheus of the consequences but he didn't listen. Eventually Pentheus tried to kill Dionysus during an orgy. Dionysus drove His followers mad and turned them against Pentheus who was quickly torn to pieces. Now Pentheus wasn't necessarily meant to be part of the Bloody Feast but his own foolishness led him to his ruin.


When the ritual is conducted properly it is a communion similar in scope to those seen in Christianity. The flesh of the sacrificial animal becomes the flesh of Zagreus. Just like how the tart is seen as the flesh of Christ. Another similarity would be the role of wine. Wine is seen as the blood of Christ and the blood of Dionysus.One consumes the flesh and drinks the wine in order to come closer to Dionysus and feel His presence in a more intimate way.


Now I won't be leading a procession or using a live animal like the ancients did.  Instead I will conduct my regular Liberalia ritual including singing dancing and yes eventually the Bloody Feast. Throughout day I will be fasting to help purify my body for the rites. Around 6pm or 7pm I will set up my ritual space in a similar fashion to the ancient worshipers. If it is warm enough I will go out in the woods to do this but if it isn't I will remain indoors. After the sun goes down I will start the rituals which I am keeping a secret. Around midnight I will begin the Bloody Feast with a trance dance. The entire ritual will be from sundown to sun up with no breaks obviously. Last year I celebrated with some open minded friends and I'm hoping this year I can do the same.


Gods bless and happy Liberalia!

Dionysos Trigonos the Thrice Formed God

Something that I have found many Hellenes ignorant of is Dionysus's triple formed origins. This could very well be because this particular view of the god is Orphic in origin.


Phanes (Protogonos)
First there was Chaos and the primal forces of Khronos (Time) and Anakte (Compulsion). The Cosmic Egg formed out of Chaos and was hatched by Time and Compulsion. Once the Egg split the first sentient being emerged. His name was Phanes and He was pure light and warmth. Phanes grew lonely and created for Himself a wife Her name was Nyx. Together Light and Night created the Cosmos. Gaia and Uranos were the first of Their children. They ruled over the earth and heavens and in time had children of Their own. We know these children as the Titans Cyclops and Hundred-Handers the predecessors to the Olympians. The Castration of Uranos and Titan War happen as told in Heisod's Theogony. Zeus the leader of the new generation of gods lacked that power to recreate the Cosmos that the Titans had ruled over. His solution to this was to go to His great grandmother Nyx the wisest and most feared of all the Gods. She instructed young Zeus to devour Her husband Phanes to absorb His power and recreate the Cosmos. Thus the first incarnation of Dionysus was ended.


Notes
I always find it interesting how the beginning of this story almost parallels the big bang. Another interesting point to ponder is the single creator god as well as the first divine couple. Phanes despite being the true original creator was neither omnibenevolent omnipresent or omniscience like Yahweh. Proof of this can be seen in the fact that He did not stop the Titans before the war and that He could not even prevent His own death. Not even the Gods can deny Fate.


Zagreus
Zeus the new King of the Gods fell in love with the goddess of spring and Queen of the Dead Persephone. In a very Zeus like manner He went to the goddess and conceived with Her a child. This child would be born with a crown of serpents and a very fierce very powerful presence. His name was Zagreus and He was the pride of His father Zeus. To show His fondness for His child Zeus set young Zagreus upon the throne of Olympus giving Him a laurel and a lightning bolt. Hera in a very Hera like way was jealous of this child born out of wedlock. She plotted and plotted until finally She conceived a wicked way to harm Zagreus. Hera went down to the Titans in Tartarus and convinced them to lure Zagreus away with toys and slaughter Him. The Titans who were not too fond for Zeus in the first place agreed to Hera's plot. The lured the holy child away from his crib with rattles and destroyed Him consuming every piece except His heart. Hermes (or Athena) rescued this heart and told Zeus of the great tragedy. Zeus in response destroyed the Titans in a fit of utter rage. Prometheus then created the first humans from the ashes of the Titans and the sacred heart of Zagreus.


Notes
Dionysos Soter (Dionysus the Savior) was a cult title given to the God probably as a result of this story. This also provides the basic ideas of the Orphic belief system. Humans are essentially divine souls trapped in an unholy form. The way to escape this prison varies but most commonly we see asceticism. However I am convinced that this belief that an ascetic lifestyle can free the soul is only a small portion of the overall philosophy lost to us after the rise of Christianity. Balance is a critical part to properly approaching Dionysus.  Neither asceticism nor total hedonism is the path to the God.


Dionysus
Zeus fell in love with the Theban princess Semele. Zeus loved her so much that He swore by the Styx to do whatever she asked of Him. Semele was fooled by the jealous goddess Hera into asking Zeus to reveal Himself in His true for as King of the Heavens. Mortals can not survive the full presence of the Gods like this and Hera knew it. Semele asked this horrid favor of Zeus and He did as she asked with a heavy heart full of sorrow. Young Semele died in a blaze of divine light but before she was completely destroyed Zeus rescued her unborn child Dionysus. He took this child to the island of Nysa to be raised by the nymphs there. Dionysus grew to maturity and learned the ways of the vine from His mentor the satyr Seilenos. Young Dionysus very quickly surpassed His mentor when He brewed the first batch of wine infused with His own love and power. Seilenos loved his pupils creation so much that he intended on existing in perpetual drunkenness. Once Dionysus came of age He began His travels around the world to spread His worship and the gifts of the vine. Behind Him was always a ready train of followers including humans nymphs satyrs animals and even demigods. During His travels He was struck by madness from Hera and left His troop to live in a cave until Zeus cured Him. After the the God dressed in women's clothing to avoid anymore interference from Hera. Dionysus had many more experiences during His travels that I will share in later posts.


Notes
I really don't have anything to say about this one. There are variations on all of these stories. Some Hellenes don't know them and others just don't believe them. These are the stories that I incorporate in my practice because these are the cult stories (or at least some of them) surrounding the God.


Final Words
Dionysus is a very human god who knows suffering and joy. He created the Cosmos as Phanes gave humanity divinity as Zagreus and shows us the way to ecstasy and freedom as Dionysus. He allows us to experience our own inner divinity that in fact we derive from Him. In a way humanity is related to Dionysus and owe Him a great debt. Because of Him we can experience pleasure and become inspired. Dionysus also allows us to truly experience and get to know ourselves by removing all those societal block. The Romans said it the best "In vino veritas" the truth is in the wine.

Who is Dionysus?

Many of the ancient gods are often misidentified misunderstood or just blatantly  lied about. The reasons for this are numerous but that is a topic for another day. Hopefully in this post I can debunk some of the common misconceptions surrounding the god Dionysus and provide some of my personal insight into the nature of the god Himself.
Dionysus has appeared in the media in countless ways since His worship first began. It is actually quite fitting for the god of theater to be so prominent in the media. However as of late the media has not been too kind to its patron. Shows like TrueBlood make Dionysus out to look like some mad god straight from Tartarus and his Maenads like devil spawn. Another less severe example of the media being harsh to Dionysus would be the Percy Jackson series. Now I will admit that I enjoy these books a lot but I greatly disagree with their portrayal of Dionysus as a short fat man forced into sobriety. Even books about the Gods fail to show Dionysus for what He truly is the lord of liberation.
This idea may seem strange to the novice Hellene or even some well versed Hellenes but the point remains. We always hear about how Dionysus is the nature god of wine and theater. Now these attributes are not wrong but they fail to see Dionysus in the big picture. I am sure we can all agree here that wine frees us from our normal selves but acting in a theater or anywhere for that matter does the same thing.
When I am on stage I am no longer myself. All of my worries and cares and even personality traits disappear as I assume the persona of whatever character I am assigned. This has the same intoxicating ecstatic freedom as any cup of wine. What else is more freeing than to become someone else entirely even if it is for a short time? No longer do you worry about the bills or going to work because you are no longer and you and you no longer have such worries.
Now let's look at nature and how this has to deal with freedom and Dionysus. The freedom the Dionysus brings us can almost be put on a scale very similar to how drunkenness can range from being tipsy to being hammered. Dionysus can give us the creativity to produce great works of art or He can give us the freedom of reverting back to our primal state. This primal state this complete breakdown of social constraints is how Dionysus the god of nature liberates us. This image of Dionysus comes to us in shows like TrueBlood that show Bacchic orgies and the chaos and madness of characters like Maryann. This image is a gross exaggeration of Dionysos Manikos or Dionysus the Mad God. The orgies were a way to wip yourself up in an ecstatic frenzy to experience the god in His true and beautiful form.


I realize this post has touched on a lot of topics that really need further discussion to gain a true understanding but I hope that this has been helpful to you. 


Thank you and Gods bless