The Story of Dionysus
Dionysus was the son of Zeus and Semele, a mortal princess of Thebes. Jealous Hera disguised herself and convinced Semele to ask Zeus to appear before her in his true glory. Zeus had sworn to grant her any wish, so he came in a blaze of lightning, and Semele was burned to ash.
Zeus saved the unborn child and sewed him into his own thigh, where Dionysus grew until he was ready to be born a second time. Because of this he was called the twice born god. To hide him from Hera, Hermes carried the baby to the nymphs of Mount Nysa, who raised him in secret, along with the wise old satyr Silenus.
As he grew up, Dionysus discovered how to grow grapes and make wine. He then set out on long journeys across the world, reaching as far as Egypt and India, teaching people to cultivate the vine. He traveled with a wild band of followers, the satyrs and the Maenads, women who danced in ecstasy in his honor.
Wherever he went, Dionysus demanded to be recognized as a god, and those who refused faced terrible punishment. King Lycurgus of Thrace was driven mad, and King Pentheus of Thebes was torn apart by his own mother and her companions. Later, Dionysus went down to the underworld and brought his mother Semele back, and she rose to Olympus as a goddess.
Dionysus found his bride on the island of Naxos, where Theseus had left Ariadne behind. He fell in love with her at once, married her and made her immortal, and together they had several children. He was the last god to join the Olympians, and in some later traditions he took the seat at their table once held by Hestia.
The Greeks worshipped Dionysus with joyful, sometimes wild festivals. In Athens, the City Dionysia held contests of tragedy and comedy in his theater on the slope of the Acropolis, and the great plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes were first performed there. Delphi honored him too, and during the winter months he was said to rule the sanctuary while Apollo was away.
Dionysus remains the god of celebration, freedom and the theater. The Romans called him Bacchus, and his name lives on in words like bacchanal. Every theater performance today, in a sense, continues the tradition that began in his honor in ancient Athens.
Famous Myths About Dionysus
The Twice-Born God
Dionysus's mother Semele was tricked by Hera into asking Zeus to show himself in his full glory, and she was burned to ash. Zeus rescued the unborn child and sewed him into his own thigh, where Dionysus grew until he was born a second time.
The Pirates and the Dolphins
Pirates once captured Dionysus, thinking he was a wealthy prince they could ransom. Vines sprouted over the ship, the god became a lion, and the terrified sailors leapt into the sea and were turned into dolphins.
King Pentheus
Pentheus, the king of Thebes, refused to accept Dionysus as a god and tried to ban his worship. Dionysus lured him to spy on the women's wild rites on the mountain, where they mistook him for an animal and tore him apart, led by his own mother.
The Golden Touch
King Midas helped the god's old companion Silenus, and Dionysus rewarded him with a wish. Midas asked that everything he touched would turn to gold, but when his food and drink turned to metal, he begged Dionysus to take the gift back.
Rescuing Ariadne
After Theseus abandoned Ariadne on the island of Naxos, Dionysus found her there and fell in love. He married her and set her wedding crown among the stars.
Where to See Dionysus in Greece
Dionysus's Family Tree
Parents of Dionysus
Partners of Dionysus
Children of Dionysus
Frequently Asked Questions About Dionysus
Who is Dionysus in Greek mythology?
Dionysus is the Olympian god of wine, theater, festivity and ecstasy. He was the youngest of the Olympians.
Who are Dionysus's parents?
Dionysus is the son of Zeus and Semele, a mortal princess of Thebes. Semele died when she saw Zeus in his true form, so Zeus sewed the unborn baby into his thigh until he was ready to be born.
Who was Dionysus's wife?
Dionysus married Ariadne, the Cretan princess whom he found on the island of Naxos after Theseus abandoned her.
Why is Dionysus linked to theater?
Greek drama grew out of festivals in honor of Dionysus, especially the City Dionysia in Athens, where the great tragedies and comedies were first performed.
What are Dionysus's symbols?
Dionysus's symbols include the thyrsus, the grapevine, ivy, the wine cup and the panther.
What is Dionysus's Roman name?
The Romans called Dionysus Bacchus.
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