Dionysus Through The Eyes Of H Essay, Research Paper

Understanding many mortals of today are celebrating their Spring Break this season, I felt it would be nice to tell some stories of my son Dionysus. In ancient times the people of Athens would have a five-day celebration in honor of my son. He was a well-known and well-respected god for many centuries. Throughout time his follower and admirer s wrote many stories about his life.

True to the many Greek stories told of us, my son s creation was very dramatic. I had an affair with Dionysus s mother Semele , and though it wasn t the first time I had an affair, my wife Hara was very upset with me. Hara demanded that kill Semele. When I killed her she was pregnant with Dionysus. I rescued my son from Semele s ashes and sewed him to my leg until he was ready to be born. I sent Dionysus to be raised by the Nysaean nymphs. They took very good care of my son and to show them my gratitude I took the nymphs and placed them among the stars.

Dionysus was manly recognized as the god of wine and vegetation. My son was nice enough to show the mortals how to cultivate grapevines and turn them into wine. To the Greeks he became popular as the god of wine and cheer. Dionysus was also known as Bacchus. The Greeks would have a spring festival for him called Bacchanalia s. Theses festival became occasions for licentiousness and intoxication. The indulgence of Bacchanalia became increasingly extreme and the Roman Senate prohibited the celebrations in 186 BC. My son s symbols were grapes, rams, thyrsus, and serpents. His domain was vegetation, pleasure, freedom, and civilization. Dionysus could make people feel light hearted and happy though if you ever crossed him you would feel his wrath, having me as his father did help him of course.

Once there were a group of pirates that saw Dionysus and assumed by his appearance that he came from rich parents. The crew decided to capture and sell him for ransom. They took Dionysus onto the ship and attempted to bind him with ropes, however, the ropes broke as soon as they touch him. One crew member named Acetes pleated with the crew to let him go, for breaking the ropes he was convinced he was a god, but the crew ignored him . Soon Dionysus became angry and turned into a lion and clawed at there feet. In the background sounds of flutes could be heard by each pirate (except for Acetes), gradually the sounds turned them into dolphins and they leaped into the water. Dionysus told Acetes to sail him to the island of Naxos. While on Naxos Dionysus met a lovely woman named Ariadne who was left abandoned on the island. Dionysus took pity on the girl and they soon feel in love. They got married and during the celebration Dionysus took Ariadne s bridal garland and threw it into the sky where it became a glowing cluster of stars, known as the Corona.

As I said earlier my son was usually always well know and well respected, but later in life he got into a fight with one of his brothers and died. Though I wasn t going to let him spend eternity in the underworld so I gave him a place as one of the 12 high gods at my right side. Also to make sure everyone happy I made his mother a palace in the high heavens and made her a goddess, known as Thyone. Being the ruler of the heavens and father to many gods and goddesses I am full of stories, thanks for listening to this one.

Stephen W. Bell