16 Comments

He was the god in the Midas Touch, who gave and later revoked the golden touch. If you look at his speeches, he advocates freedom and individuality above all else, it is up to you to learn to master yourself.

Expand full comment
Oct 1Liked by Classical Wisdom

Funny… my mother explained where they got my name as young as I can remember, I’m going to take your comment as the way I’ve tried to model myself. I homeschooled my children and am 100% certain if you asked them what I have emphasized as most important in life they would all roll their eyes in unison and say..”yes, yes, educate yourself in this life and take responsibility for everything in it!!” Haha

Expand full comment
author

Love it!! Excellent name :-)

Expand full comment

You so fit that noble name. I have several articles about him, if you are interested. One of the best, and the chosen Heir of Zeus. Because of his great suffering and wisdom.

Expand full comment

That would be great. Pls send me the one or 2 you deem most worthy. I will read and send to my mum. Much appreciated 🙏🏻

Expand full comment
Oct 3Liked by Classical Wisdom

Thank you so much I read the first this morning. I was taken back by a few things within the article, non more so than the link to a Seal track “crazy” that he says explains Dionysus in song… wow, literally one of my favorite songs from the first time I heard it. Must’ve listened to it a thousand times by now, I’ll never get sick of it. Haha

Thanks again

Expand full comment

I love that song too. I am glad you enjoyed it!

Expand full comment

I love Caravaggio’s "Bacchus". He doesn’t just depict the god as the lively and chaotic figure we might expect. Instead, he shows us a youthful, somewhat androgynous Dionysus, almost sickly, with flushed cheeks. It reflects the ambiguity of indulgence—the fine line between pleasure and decay. Great article!

Expand full comment
author

It is one of my favorites as well... I also like the theme of him going to India which you can see on Sarcophagi.

Expand full comment

Dionysius, in my opinion, is the most enigmatic person/myth of all time. It's next to impossible not to have read about him for any historian, as he is mentionwd in many ancient stories and cultures.

Even the story of Christmas and the Christmas tree and gifts has been originally linked to him. Not sure who first wrote that. But one thing for sure, he was known in theater, and mystery religions/cult initiations. Like the wine he was associated with, we can forget our worries for a moment and get caught up in the rapture like in theater when we forget ourselves in the characters of the play. Perhaps alluding to being the vine, not the grapes as to that of Atman.

Expand full comment
Sep 27Liked by Classical Wisdom

My favourite god, full of mischief but not taking themselves too seriously and for those encountering him the term’caveat emptor’ was invented!

Expand full comment

What joy to have stumbled on this article right after reading about Nietzsche's concept of the dionysian:)

Expand full comment
Oct 4Liked by Classical Wisdom

Nice article. Gotta love the classics.

Expand full comment

Interesting bit about sparagmos and omophagia—festivities I wasn’t aware of. Dionysus kept quite the following. Great read, thank you!

Expand full comment