Dionysus

Dionysus was the god of fertility and wine, later considered a patron of the arts. He created wine and spread the art of viticulture. He had a dual nature; on one hand, he brought joy and divine ecstasy; or he would bring brutal and blinding rage, thus reflecting the dual nature of wine. Dionysus was the son of Zeus and Semele, and he was the only god with a mortal parent. After Zeus appeared to Seleme in his true form she was instantly burned to a crisp at the sight of his glory. Zeus managed to rescue the fetus of Dionysus and stitched him into his thigh until he would be ready to be born. His birth from Zeus conferred immortality upon him. Hera, jealous of Zeus' infidelity arranged for the Titans to kill Dionysus. The Titans ripped him to pieces; however, Rhea brought him back to life. Afterwards, Zeus arranged for his protection and gave Dionysus to the mountain nymphs to be raised.

The Birth of Dionysus

Semele was a daughter of Cadmus, the first king of Thebes, famous for her extraordinary beauty and grace. When Zeus, the King of the gods, saw the princess, he fell in love with her.

Soon Semele became pregnant of Zeus, but Zeus' jealous wife Hera begrudged Semele's pregnancy and tried to destroy her... so one day she planted seeds of doubt in Semele's mind and made her very suspicious about Zeus' devine nature.

At that time, Zeus was deeply in love with Semele. To please her, he swore upon the sacred river of the gods Styx to make any wish of Semele come true. Semele asked from Zeus to reveal all his true form.

Zeus first tried to hold back but he had already made a sacred oath and was forced to obey Semele's order. So he revealed himself. Immediately, lightnings appeared and everything Zeus' thunderbolt touched was shaking and moving, wrapped in fire.

Fired were also wrapped around the beautiful Semele, burning her to death, because any mortal who would sight a deity in all his glory was cured to die.

By that time, Dionysus was still in Semele's womb. However, Zeus managed to recue the infant by binding him in his thigh. Still angry, Hera instructed the Titans to kill Dionysus and they did so swiftly. Rhea brought him back to life and Zeus found protection for Dionysus by sending him to be raised by the mountain nymphs.

Dionysus' Symbols

Dionysus' most notable symbols are his thyrsus (a wand/staff), ivy, grapevines, and chalices. Though he his not commonly associated with bulls, panthers, masks, and goats, these are all also symbols of the Greek God.