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Orpheus was said to have invented the Mysteries of Dionysus. [1] It is possible that water divination was an important aspect of worship within the cult. [2] The cult of Dionysus traces back to at least Mycenaean Greece, since his name is found on Mycenean Linear B tablets as 𐀇𐀺𐀝𐀰 (di-wo-nu-so).
Many modern sources identify this "Orphic Dionysus" with the god Zagreus, though this name does not seem to have been used by any of the ancient Orphics, who simply called him Dionysus. [234] As pieced together from various ancient sources, the reconstructed story, usually given by modern scholars, goes as follows. [ 235 ]
The Derveni krater, height: 90.5 cm (35 ½ in.), 4th century BC. The Dionysian Mysteries of mainland Greece and the Roman Empire are thought to have evolved from a more primitive initiatory cult of unknown origin (perhaps Thracian or Phrygian) which had spread throughout the Mediterranean region by the start of the Classical Greek period.
The rite climaxed in a performance of frenzied feats of strength and madness, such as uprooting trees, tearing a bull (the symbol of Dionysus) apart with their bare hands, an act called sparagmos, and eating its flesh raw, an act called omophagia. This latter rite was a sacrament akin to communion in which the participants assumed the strength ...
Divine power allowed the gods to intervene in mortal affairs in various ways; they could cause natural events such as rain, wind, the growing of crops, or epidemics, and were able to dictate the outcomes of complex human events, such as battles or political situations.
The triumph of Dionysus, depicted on a 2nd-century Roman sarcophagus. Dionysus rides in a chariot drawn by panthers; his procession includes elephants and other exotic animals. The Dionysiaca / ˌ d aɪ. ə. n ɪ ˈ z aɪ. ə. k ə / (Ancient Greek: Διονυσιακά, Dionysiaká) is an ancient Greek epic poem and the principal work of Nonnus.
Zeus intended Dionysus to be his successor as ruler of the cosmos, but a jealous Hera incited the Titans to kill the child. Distracting the infant Dionysus with various toys, including a mirror, the Titans seized Dionysus and tore (or cut) [30] him to pieces. The pieces were then boiled, roasted and partially eaten, by the Titans.
After Midas acquired the power to turn everything into gold from Dionysus, his touch turned a number of objects into gold, be it his clothes or his food or even water. Eventually Midas begged Dionysus to take back his gift lest Midas died of starvation, unable to consume golden food. Sirens: Snatching birds with women's heads Demeter