Dionysus, god of wine, in ancient Greek and Roman mythology is argued to have come late to the divinity family. Scholars continue to debate the idea. Myth scholars, fascinated by his stature and appearance believe that Dionysus was perceived as a god, and yet there are images of Dionysus that depict him as a goddess as well. The divine family tree of Dionysus begins with Dionysus as a gender specific male. I merely argue that, perhaps it is not a question of gender, but of perception. In order to receive the full understanding of Dionysus, one must start at the very beginning of Dionysus's "divine story."
Zeus and Persephone had a son, Dionysus. The Titans at the directions of Hera dismembered Dionysus, whom they had seen playing around the Heavens. Realizing what had happened, Zeus cast out the Titans to Tartarus. Athena, goddess of wisdom, saved Dionysus's heart, the only surviving part, and returned it to Zeus. (Sheppard 1) The story of Dionysus's first life ends. However, he has a second coming in which there are many versions. Euripides's The Bacchae is a favorable version. This play suggests that Zeus swallowed Dionysus's heart. Zeus fell in love with Semele, daughter of Cadmus (a mortal) and Harmonia (the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite), coveted her, and re-inseminated Dionysus in Semele. Hera, Zeus's wife, in a jealous rage went to Semele as her nurse and pursued Semele to ask Zeus into her house as he did to Hera. Zeus appeared as a lightning bolt as he did Hera. Zeus rescued Dionysus, Semele's unborn child, from the ash. However, Semele was unable to withstand the sight burned to death. To hide Dionysus from Hera, Zeus sewed him into his own thigh. Once Dionysus became a young boy, Zeus sent him ...
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...ay make the depictions as artists have done of Dionysus as female. The artists have merely shown one side of Dionysus. Dionysus is the ultimate god of transcendence and transgression, which allows him to be male yet be perceived as female. I believe Dionysus is as John Donne, a poet puts it, "We Two being One." Dionysus is male, but his outer appearance, character, and skills allow him to depicted as female.
Works Cited
Euripides. "The Bacchae". Ed. Slavitt. University of Pennsylvania. 1997.
Hodges, Miles. "Dionysianism and Orphism".
http://www.newgenvacenter.org/dionysianism.htm (8/5/2002)
Sheppard, David. "Introduction to Greek Mythology".
http://greek-myth.com/Mythology/Ancient_Theatre/dionysos.htm
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