Mythology Report- Dionysus Research Paper - 1859 Words

Imran Kanji Ms. Heenan ENG 2D1 25 September 2012 Dionysus Introduction Dionysus is an important figure of Greek mythology. He is the Olympian god of wine, vegetation, festivity and pleasure. He represents humanity’s longing for pleasure and desire to celebrate. Dionysus is also the god of hallucination, theatre, reincarnation and homosexuality. He is called: â€Å"the youthful, beautiful, but effeminate god of wine. He is also called both by Greeks and Romans Bacchus (Bakchos), that is, the noisy or riotous god†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Roman 201). The most popular honour that Dionysus received, besides being granted a place in Olympus, was the Dionysia festival in Athens, Greece. The festival was celebrated in honour of Dionysus, and the central events of which†¦show more content†¦Dionysus planned to let him reflect and learn from his mistakes. However, Zeus did not care to have the gods insulted, so he blinded then killed Lycurgus,† (Hunt 1). Dionysus moved on to Thebes, which at the time was ruled by his cousin Pentheus. Pen theus did not know who Dionysus was, or that he was a god. Dionysus was with his group of followers, we were singing and dancing while drunk on wine. Pentheus did not like the strangers, and ordered his guards to imprison all of them. Pentheus insulted Dionysus, and called him a ‘cheating sorcerer’. The prophet Teiresias, who had already dressed as one of Dionysuss followers gave Pentheus a warning: The man you reject is a new god. He is Semeles child, whom Zeus rescued. He and Demeter, are the greatest upon earth for men.† Pentheus laughed at Teiresias, and ordered the guards to continue. The guards’ ropes fell apart, their latches opened, and they realized that they could not imprison Dionysus and his followers. Dionysus was taken to Pentheus, and tried to explain his worship. Pentheus only listened to his own anger, and insulted Dionysus. â€Å"Dionysus gave up and left Pentheus to his doom. Pentheus pursued Dionysus followers up into the hills where th ey had gone after walking away from his prison. Many of the local women including Pentheus’ mother and sister had joined them there. Then Dionysus appeared to his followers in his most