Dionysos: Difference between revisions
imported>Sadelyrate No edit summary |
imported>Sadelyrate No edit summary |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
{{Stub}} | {{Stub}} | ||
[[File:Phokis-Pronaia-Dionysos.jpg|thumb|250px|A 5th century BCE mural of Dionysos]] | [[File:Phokis-Pronaia-Dionysos.jpg|thumb|250px|A 5th century BCE mural of Dionysos]] | ||
'''Dionysos''', also called '''Bacchus''', is a [[Greece|Greek]] and [[Rome|Roman]] god of wine and [[grape]]s, theater, fertility, and religious or ritualistic ecstasy. He is regarded by some as one of the [[Twelve Gods]], the major deities of the Greek pantheon. | '''Dionysos''', also called '''Bacchus''' and the "god who comes",<ref name="Xiphos">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Xiphos of Dionysos]]</ref> is a [[Greece|Greek]] and [[Rome|Roman]] god of wine and [[grape]]s, theater, fertility, and religious or ritualistic ecstasy. He is regarded by some as one of the [[Twelve Gods]], the major deities of the Greek pantheon. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Dionysos was said to have been born on [[Naxos Island]].<ref>'' | Dionysos was said to have been born on [[Naxos Island]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Naxos|Naxos]]</ref> At some point, he granted [[Elais]], one of the daughters of King [[Anios]] of [[Delos]], the ability to make oil spring from the ground.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Delos|Delos: Farm of Elais]]</ref> Dionysos was also said to have driven mad the daughters of King {{Wiki|Proetus (son of Abas)|Proitos}} of {{Wiki|Tiryns}} in [[Arkadia]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Arkadia|Arkadia: Madness Cave]]</ref> | ||
He was also said to have been initiated into mysteries and ecstasy by the goddess of fertility [[Kybele]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Lesbos|Lesbos: Temple of Kybele]]</ref> | He was also said to have been initiated into mysteries and ecstasy by the goddess of fertility [[Kybele]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Lesbos|Lesbos: Temple of Kybele]]</ref> | ||
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
In his birth island of Naxos, a [[Temple of Dionysos, Naxos|temple]] was built to celebrate him in order for him to bless their vines and wine production. It housed several festivities for Dionysos each year.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – Naxos: Temple of Dionysos</ref> Another [[Temple of Dionysos Kolonatas|temple]] to Dionysos was located on a hill in [[Sparta]], [[Lakonia]], housing relics related to the mythical hero [[Perseus]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Lakonia|Lakonia: Temple of Dionysos Kolonatas]]</ref> | In his birth island of Naxos, a [[Temple of Dionysos, Naxos|temple]] was built to celebrate him in order for him to bless their vines and wine production. It housed several festivities for Dionysos each year.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – Naxos: Temple of Dionysos</ref> Another [[Temple of Dionysos Kolonatas|temple]] to Dionysos was located on a hill in [[Sparta]], [[Lakonia]], housing relics related to the mythical hero [[Perseus]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Lakonia|Lakonia: Temple of Dionysos Kolonatas]]</ref> | ||
[[Pausanias of Sparta]], a king of [[Sparta]] and the [[Sage (Cult of Kosmos)|Sage]] of the [[Peloponnesian League (Cult of Kosmos)|Peloponnesian League]] branch of the [[Cult of Kosmos]], wielded a [[Xiphos of Dionysos|xiphos]] dedicated to Dionysos; it was also believed that when Dionysians were threatened, the god would come save them, bearing the blade.<ref name="Xiphos" /> Following Pausanias' death, the sword ended up in the hands of the Spartan ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' [[Kassandra]], who also recovered an [[armor]] [[Dionysos Set|set]] dedicated to the god.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey''</ref> | |||
==Behind the scenes== | ==Behind the scenes== | ||
Revision as of 19:31, 27 May 2020
Dionysos, also called Bacchus and the "god who comes",[1] is a Greek and Roman god of wine and grapes, theater, fertility, and religious or ritualistic ecstasy. He is regarded by some as one of the Twelve Gods, the major deities of the Greek pantheon.
History
Dionysos was said to have been born on Naxos Island.[2] At some point, he granted Elais, one of the daughters of King Anios of Delos, the ability to make oil spring from the ground.[3] Dionysos was also said to have driven mad the daughters of King Proitos of Tiryns in Arkadia.[4]
He was also said to have been initiated into mysteries and ecstasy by the goddess of fertility Kybele.[5]
Legacy and influence
In the Greek myths, Dionysos' female followers were called Maenads, known for their frenzied revelries.[6] Along with them, satyrs often accompanied the god, as well as did a number of humans, enough to give birth to a cult.
During the 5th century BCE in Greece, statues depicting Dionysos were often located near vineyards, like the one on Markos' vineyard, and taverns.[7] Of special note is the one located in Korinth, Korinthia, said to be hewn from the tree in which King Pentheus of Thebes hid to spy on the Maenads.[6]
In Athens, a house deemed as one of the most beautiful houses in the city was dedicated to Dionysos after its former owner performed a parody of the Eleusinian Mysteries, and was subsequently punished for it.[8] The Theater of Dionysos, known for being the first to introduce theater to the city, was also dedicated to him.[9]
In his birth island of Naxos, a temple was built to celebrate him in order for him to bless their vines and wine production. It housed several festivities for Dionysos each year.[10] Another temple to Dionysos was located on a hill in Sparta, Lakonia, housing relics related to the mythical hero Perseus.[11]
Pausanias of Sparta, a king of Sparta and the Sage of the Peloponnesian League branch of the Cult of Kosmos, wielded a xiphos dedicated to Dionysos; it was also believed that when Dionysians were threatened, the god would come save them, bearing the blade.[1] Following Pausanias' death, the sword ended up in the hands of the Spartan misthios Kassandra, who also recovered an armor set dedicated to the god.[12]
Behind the scenes
The mural depicting Dionysos in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey is based on a vase painting from the 5th century BCE. The mural featuring Dionysos and the maenads is based on Dance of Bacchantes by the ceramic painter Hieron.[13] This mural seems to be unique to the Telesterion of Eleusis.
Contrary to his most common depiction in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey as a bearded man, Dionysos was actually more commonly depicted as a beautiful youth bordering on androgynous in Greek art. The statue used for Dionysos in Odyssey is based on a marble statue of an Etruscan priest holding a patera or a phiale.
Gallery
-
A 5th century mural featuring Dionysos and maenads -
Statue of Dionysos in Korinth -
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed: Origins (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (statue only)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Xiphos of Dionysos
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Naxos
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Delos: Farm of Elais
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Arkadia: Madness Cave
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Lesbos: Temple of Kybele
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Korinthia: Statue of Dionysos
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Attika: Hermippos' Residence
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Attika: Theater of Dionysos
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Naxos: Temple of Dionysos
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Lakonia: Temple of Dionysos Kolonatas
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
- ↑ The Dance – Historic Illustrations of Dancing from 3300 B.C. to 1911 A.D.