#Bacchic Mysteries

[blueheartbookclub]

A Review of "The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" by Thomas Taylor

"The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" is an illuminating journey into the heart of ancient Greek religious practices, meticulously explored and vividly presented by the renowned philosopher and translator, Thomas Taylor. This dissertation, complemented by the evocative illustrations of A. L. Rawson, takes readers on a profound exploration of the mystical rituals that shaped the spiritual landscape of ancient Greece.

Thomas Taylor's scholarly expertise in Neoplatonism and his unwavering dedication to preserving the wisdom of the past shine brilliantly in this work. Through his meticulous translation and commentary, Taylor unveils the enigmatic rites and ceremonies of the Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries, providing readers with a window into the spiritual world of ancient Greece.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Taylor's work is his ability to convey the deep spiritual significance of these ancient rituals. He delves into the symbolism, mythology, and metaphysical underpinnings of the Mysteries, revealing how they were designed to facilitate personal transformation and spiritual enlightenment. Taylor's profound insights into the mysteries' inner workings give readers a profound understanding of their purpose and significance.

The accompanying illustrations by A. L. Rawson add another layer of richness to this dissertation. Rawson's artistry brings to life the mystical and mythological elements of the rituals, making the ancient world tangible and captivating. These illustrations serve as a visual guide, enhancing the reader's comprehension and engagement with the material.

"The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" is not merely a historical account but a spiritual odyssey. It invites readers to contemplate the enduring relevance of these ancient practices in the modern world. Taylor's work inspires us to reflect on the importance of initiation, transformation, and the quest for spiritual truth.

In conclusion, "The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" is a masterpiece of scholarship and spiritual insight. Thomas Taylor's dedication to preserving the wisdom of antiquity and his ability to convey its profound significance make this dissertation an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the spiritual and mystical traditions of ancient Greece. A. L. Rawson's illustrations add a visually captivating dimension to this already enlightening work. It is a must-read for seekers of wisdom, scholars, and those fascinated by the mysteries of the past.

"The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" by Thomas Taylor is available in Amazon in paperback 13.99$ and hardcover 19.99$ editions.

Length of the Book: 184 pages

Language: English

Rating 8/10

Link of the book!

Review by King's Cat

[blueheartbooks]

A Review of "The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" by Thomas Taylor

"The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" is an illuminating journey into the heart of ancient Greek religious practices, meticulously explored and vividly presented by the renowned philosopher and translator, Thomas Taylor. This dissertation, complemented by the evocative illustrations of A. L. Rawson, takes readers on a profound exploration of the mystical rituals that shaped the spiritual landscape of ancient Greece.

Thomas Taylor's scholarly expertise in Neoplatonism and his unwavering dedication to preserving the wisdom of the past shine brilliantly in this work. Through his meticulous translation and commentary, Taylor unveils the enigmatic rites and ceremonies of the Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries, providing readers with a window into the spiritual world of ancient Greece.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Taylor's work is his ability to convey the deep spiritual significance of these ancient rituals. He delves into the symbolism, mythology, and metaphysical underpinnings of the Mysteries, revealing how they were designed to facilitate personal transformation and spiritual enlightenment. Taylor's profound insights into the mysteries' inner workings give readers a profound understanding of their purpose and significance.

The accompanying illustrations by A. L. Rawson add another layer of richness to this dissertation. Rawson's artistry brings to life the mystical and mythological elements of the rituals, making the ancient world tangible and captivating. These illustrations serve as a visual guide, enhancing the reader's comprehension and engagement with the material.

"The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" is not merely a historical account but a spiritual odyssey. It invites readers to contemplate the enduring relevance of these ancient practices in the modern world. Taylor's work inspires us to reflect on the importance of initiation, transformation, and the quest for spiritual truth.

In conclusion, "The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" is a masterpiece of scholarship and spiritual insight. Thomas Taylor's dedication to preserving the wisdom of antiquity and his ability to convey its profound significance make this dissertation an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the spiritual and mystical traditions of ancient Greece. A. L. Rawson's illustrations add a visually captivating dimension to this already enlightening work. It is a must-read for seekers of wisdom, scholars, and those fascinated by the mysteries of the past.

"The Eleusinian and Bacchic Mysteries" by Thomas Taylor is available in Amazon in paperback 13.99$ and hardcover 19.99$ editions.

Length of the Book: 184 pages

Language: English

Rating 8/10

Link of the book!

Review by King's Cat

[thoodleoo]

the bacchic mysteries are mysteries TO YOU. i know what's in them tho

[stalkerofthegods]

Lord Dionysus/Bacchus deep dive

Lord Dionysus is an eccentric god, He is an understanding god, I adore him as a researcher and as someone in the community with schizophrenia and mental illness, he is kind far beyond words, he is not only a wine god but also the god of freedom and ecstasy, may we all respect him and may his devotees and worshipers speak of his good deeds and yell in his honor of goodness.

Signs he's reaching out • smelling wine all of a sudden, craving wine, You feel a twinge of madness, dreams with his attributes with him, seeing references of him everywhere

Herbs •psalakanthos plant, Grapes and their vines, Figs, Bay laurel, Barley, Pine, Pomegranate, Fennel, apples, berries, weed, Silver Fir, Bindweed, poppy, wheat and hops leafs, wildflowers, pine cones, Apple seeds, Blazing star. I think he would like Cinnamon, mint, feverfew (happiness), Pepper, basil, chives, horseradish (courage), orange, lemongrass, marjoram (insight), vanilla, sorrel, cinnamon (love) 

Animals• Oxen and wild animals, asses, Leopards, Panther, Cheetah, serpents, rams,  dolphins, tigers, lynx, panthers, goats, bats, griffons, bulls , foxes, deers/fawns

Colors •purple, green, gold, Red, Black, White.

Patron of• fruit and intoxitation, Parties, Festivities, Banquets, Drinking, Bacchic Revelry, Madness, Bacchic Frenzy, Insanity, Hallucination, Homosexuality, Effeminacy, Cross-dressing, Forest Wilderness, Wild vegetation, Predatory big cats, Reincarnation, The path to Elysium, Comedy and Tragedy Plays, Playwrites, Actors, bartenders, the arts, non-binary people, divination, witchcraft, oracles

Curses• violence, and sickness, Destructive insanity, madness

Blessings• pleasure and fun, Religious frenzy (in the orgiastic cults), Ecstasy, Afterlife in Elysium (paradise), getting a bigger friend group, charismatic going up, getting a romantic partner.

Diety of• wine-making, orchards, fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, theatre, partying, Epiphany, weddings, death, sacrifice, sexuality, dancing, immortality, and reincarnation, uninhibited freedom, as well as the subversion of the powerful, ecstasy, and abandon, swamps and marshes.

Crystals• Amethyst, grape agate, Garnet, Ruby, deep red stones, tiger eye, serpentine, leopard jasper, amber, green opal or jade, carnelian, rose quartz (someone had it on their alter for him, so I added it here.), bloodstone, sugilite, purple fluorite, ametrine lepidolite

Mortal or immortal • immortal

Zodiac • Taruas 

Vows/omans• none 

Number• 7 

Morals• he is morally ambiguous

Married to• Ariadne 

Past lovers• Althaia, Ampelos, Aphrodite, Erigone, Kronois, Pallene, Physokoa, Polymnos.

What he favors in devotees• free-spirited, out-of-the-norm, wild lifestyle, gender fluid, transgender, nonbinary people. People are restricted wanting to become free. 

Personality• He brings joy, ecstasy, and merriment, but also delivers "brutal and blinding rage”, he's a very chill guy, many say he is sassy. I met him once, and he respects people's boundaries.

Home• Mount Olympus 

Equivalents/most resemblance • Osiris, Hades, Sabazios, Yahweh, Bacchus, Liber, Tammuz, Orotalt, Fufluns, Acan, Jesus.

Epithets• Acratophorus, Ἀκρατοφό.ρος “giver of unmixed wine at Phigaleia in arcadia, Acroreites at Sicyon Adoneus a Latinised form of Adonis and is also used as an epithet for Bacchus, AegobolusΑἰγοβόλος "goat-shooter" at Potniae in Boeoria, Aesymnetes Αἰσυμνήτης “ruler" or "lord" at Aroë and Patrae in Achaea, Agrios Ἄγριος "wild", in Macedonia, Androgynos Ἀνδρόγυνος ”Androgynous” specifically in intercourse referring to the god taking both an active male and a passive female role, Anthroporraistes, Ἀνθρωπορραίστης “man-destroyer" a title of Dionysus at Tenedos, Bassareus, Βασσαρεύς "fox-skin", which item was worn by his cultists in their mysteries. Bougenes, Βουγενής or Βοηγενής “borne by a cow", in the Mysteries of Lerna,

Braetes, Βραίτης "related to beer" at Thrace, Briseus Βρῑσεύς "he who prevails" in Smyrna, Bromios Βρόμιος "roaring” and "roar of thunder" refering to the wind amd primarily relating to the central death/resurrection element of his myths and also the god's transformations into lion and bull and  of those who drink alcohol and refers to Dionysus' father, Zeus "the thunderer", Choiropsalasχοιροψάλας “pig-plucker" Greek χοῖρος = "pig"(which was  used as a slang term for the female genitalia as A reference to Dionysus's role as a fertility deity), Chthonios Χθόνιος “the subterranean”, Cistophorus Κιστοφόρος "basket-bearer and ivy-bearer" because baskets are sacred to the Dionysus,Dimetor Διμήτωρ "twice-born" which Refers to Dionysus's two births, Dendrites Δενδρίτης "he of the trees" as a fertility god, Dithyrambos Διθύραμβος used at his festivals referring to his premature birth, Eleutherios Ἐλευθέριος “the liberator" also a epithet shared with Eros, Endendros ("he in the tree"), Enorches "with balls" with reference to his fertility, or "in the testicles" in reference to Zeus' sewing the baby Dionysus "into his thigh" which means his testicles used in Samos and Lesbos, Eridromos"good-running" in Nonnus' Dionysiaca, Erikryptos Ἐρίκρυπτος "completely hidden" in Macedonia, Euaster Εὐαστήρ from the cry "euae",  Euius (Euios), from the cry "euae" in lyric passages, and in Euripides’ play “the bacche, Lacchus Lακχος a possible epithet which is associated with the Elusinian Mysteries, The name "Iacchus" may come from the Ιακχος (Iakchos) whicj is a hymn sung in honor of Dionysus.

Indoletes, Ἰνδολέτης, meaning slayer/killer of Indians Due to his campaign against the Indians, Isodaetes, Ισοδαίτης, meaning "he who distributes equal portions", cult epithet which is also shared with Helios, Kemilius, Κεμήλιος and kemas: "young deer, pricket",

Liknites "he of the winnowing fan", as a fertility god connected with mystery religions ( a winnowing fan was used to separate the chaff from the grain.)

Palazzo Massimo, Rome, Lenaius, Ληναῖος "god of the wine-press", Lyaeus, or Lyaios Λυαῖος, "deliverer” and "loosener") which refers to him as who releases from care and anxiety, 

Lysius, Λύσιος "delivering, releasing" At Thebes there was a temple of Dionysus Lysius, MelanaigisΜελάναιγις "of the black goatskin" at the Apaturia festival, 

Morychus Μόρυχος “smeared" in Sicily, because his icon was smeared with wine less at the vintage, Mystes Μύστης "of the mysteries" at Tegea in Arcadia, Nysian Nύσιος according to Philostatus he was called like this by the Ancient indians  Most probably, because according to legend he founded the city of Nysa, Oeneus, Οἰνεύς "wine-dark" as god of the wine press, Omadios “flesh-eater", Eusebius writes in Preparation for the gospel that Euelpis of Carystus states that in Chios and Tendos they did a human sacrifice to Dionysus Omadios, 

Phallen , (Φαλλήν) (probably "related to the phallus” at Lesbos, Phleus "related to the bloοm of a plant", Peudanor Ψευδάνωρ "false man" referring to his feminine qualities in Macedonia,

Pericionius, Περικιόνιος "climbing the column (ivy)" a name of Dionysus at Thebes, Semeleios or Semeleius or Semeleus an obscure epithet meaning 'He of the Earth' and 'son of Semele' Also “Son of Semele, Iakchus, wealth-giver”, 

Skyllitas, Σκυλλίτας “related to the vine-branch" at Kos, Sykites, Συκίτης "related to figs" at Laconia,Taurophagus, Ταυροφάγος “bull eating", Tauros Ταῦρος “a bull", Theoinus, Θέοινος wine-god of a festival in Attica, Τhyiοn, Θυίων "from the festival of Dionysus 'Thyia' (Θυῐα) at Elis", Thyllophorus, Θυλλοφόρος "bearing leaves" at Kos, Dionysus and Zeus absorbs the role of Sabazios (a Thracian/Phrygian deity)

Facts• Dionysus was the last god to enter Olympus, When Dionysus had grown up lady Hera made him into a state of madness so he wandered through many countries of the earth, He was a student of the famous centaur Chiron who taught him how to dance, The common names Dennis and Denise are said to be derived from Dionysus. he hated the sight of an owl

Roots• Ancient Greece, Greek mythology, Mount Pramnos on Ikaria

Offerings • Honey, Meat, Alcohol (especially wine), Fruit, Cakes, Poetry, Songs, Spices (ex- cinnamon), Blood or liquids resembling blood, He thinks those "wine mom" signs that you get in cheap gift shops are hilarious, Grape juice, Intoxicants, Grapes, Olive oil, Apples, Figs, Eggs, Goblets, Curved daggers, Bull horns, Snake skin, Leopard or tiger print objects, Purple candles, Theatre masks, Sexual toys, Percussion instruments, Wine bottles, Fake/toy grapes, Leaves or curls from grapevines, Pine needles, Pinecones, Apple seeds, Bindweed, Wildflowers, Toys photos or art of any big cats, snakes, Hymns, Songs you’ve written, Any art that you create, Any stories that you create, Art, pictures of the comedy, Wine corks, Wine labels, Toy or miniature drums, milk, water from the sea (he has a strong connection with the sea), Decorative beads, party beads, flashy jewelry, Wine glasses, Shot glasses, Corkscrews, Sparkling cider, Grape flavored things, Cheese, hallucinogens, Nips (small alcohol bottles), Bottle opener, Beer/soda tabs, Alcohol bottles with cool labels, Costumes, NatureFig/fig newtonsBull imagery, Donkey imagery, Bones, Antlers, Dead/preserved animals, Hiking gear, Seeds, Concert/festival tickets, Locks of hair, Shaven beard hair, Pride swag, ravagant clothes/clothes that make you feel good, soup (you know , you know.)

Devotional • learn about sacred sex, shamanic journeying, responsible entheogen use, and alcohol as a sacrament, read “The Secret History” book, Make a playlist for Him, Dance and sing to your favorite songs or songs you’d think He would like, Throw a feast in His honor, Remembering to take your medication and taking care of your mental health, Support/donate to your local theatre in His name, Be a part of the theatre, Stand up for those that are marginalized, Write stories/plays for Him, Invite Him to watch plays or movies with you (especially comedies or tragedies), Throw parties or attend them, Attend festivals, Attend a wine tasting, Go on wine tours, Attend parades, Masturbate or partake in sexual acts for Him (if you’re comfortable doing so And over 18), Drink alcohol or grape juice, Smoke po, Learn about winemaking, Support local vineyards, Wear wreaths made from ivy, Wear faux leopard or tiger print, Wear the color purple, Pray to Him for things while intoxicated/high, Visit your local winery and participate in a grape-stomp, do some Homebrewing in his honor, Grow a garden in his honor, Make your own ritual tools in his honor, Collect art, do Glamourbombs in his honor, Pretend to be somebody else in his honor, go out to a club in his honor, listen to music in his honor, read in his his mythos, write things for a ritual and write a prayer for him, eat some grapes or have some grape juice or sparkling grape juice (or wine if able and of age), listen to party music, read plays, watch musicals or plays (ex- high school musical, Hamilton), listen to musical soundtracks, learn about the history of theatre, learn about viticulture and vineyards, do things that bring you pleasure, listen to party soundscapes, watch documentaries about any of his sacred animals, Trip intentionally/spiritually, Learn about substance abuse/recovery, Destigamtize drug users, Learn about harm reduction, Make home videos, Write poetry, Act, Dress up, Go to the woods, Dance/sing in the woods, Meditate in the woods, Learn wilderness safety and first aid, Learn what to do when encountering a wild animal, Go off the beaten path, Explore new areas, Pick up litter, Forage, Recycle bottles, Grow fruit, Try new fruits, Have sex (let the partner know beforehand it's in Diyonisus honor, 18+), Masturbate (18+), Have threesomes/swing (ask him before and make sure the other participants know it's in Dionysus's honor, 18+.), Finally, give into that one kink you’ve been ignoring (you know the one, 18+), Learn about consent with partners, Learn how to preserve dead animals, Learn about different life cycles (ex-plants, animals), Learn about immigration in your area, Learn about different cultures, Try foreign foods, Learn a new language, Learn about your ancestry, Help immigrants in your area, Grow your hair out, Keep a Manifest/Keep a manifestation journal, Use Sexual/creative energy to manifest, Shed your old self, Do Self-reflection/self-exploration, Identify areas where you overindulge (ex- food, substances, spending).

Symbols• Grapevine, ivy, phallus, Thyrsus, theatrical masks, Leopard Skin, Panther, Cheetah, the animal called asses, cymbals, swords, or serpents, rams, laurel, asphodel,  dolphins, tiger, lynx, panther, horns, goats, his chariot pulled by 2 leopards, masks in general. 

Siblings• Ares, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Hebe, Hermes, Heracles, Helen of Troy, Hephaestus, Perseus, Minos, the Muses, the Graces.

His friends/gets along with• Maenads and Bacchantes and Satyrs and Sileni and Pan and Priapus

Attendees• Seilenos (God of Drunkenness), Pan (God of Shepherds & Pastures) the Satyroi and Seilenoi (spirits of Fertility & the Wild) The Bakkhantes and Mainades (Nymphe and Women revellers) Komos Satyriskos (cup-bearer)

Appearance in astral or gen• Dionysus often took on a bestial shape and was associated with various animals, often wearing an Ivy wreath, the thyrsus, and the kantharos (a large two-handled goblet) In early Greek art he has represented as a mature male, bearded and robed holding a fennel staff tipped with a pine-cone, but later on he was portrayed as youthful sensuous, naked or semi-naked androgynous youth and effeminate with brown hair and pale features, often holding grapes and drinking wine.

Parentage•  Zeus and Semele, some sources also say Zeus and Demeter, some say Zeus and Persephone, but he always sends up with Persephone as a foster mother or as a biological mother, but before his reincarnation, his parents were Ammon and Amalthea.

Pet• leopards

Children • Priapus, Hymen, Thaos, Staphylus, Ononpion, Cumus, Phthonus, the Graces and Deianira, Seilenos, Pan, Satyroi & Seilenoi, Bakkhantes & Mainades, Komodo’s

season and festivles• Diyonosus festivals were bacchanalia, Dionysia, Anthesteria, Dionysian, Lenaia, Panathenaia,  his season was spring and March and April

Day• 11th to the 13th of the month of Anthesterion, around the time of the January or February full moon.

Sacred places• Boitia in Greece, naxos Greek, island Edina in western Thrake, his holiest shrine was Mt kithairon (Nysa) in Boiotia Greece, he also declared war on India. A sacred place is the theatre.

Status• Greek god in the major theoi, and an agriculture Demi God. 

Pet peeves• Uderestemating him, he probably won't like it if you ignore him

Music• Disco, show tunes, psychedelic rock, acid folk, Greek folk music, EDM, classical, new wave, art pop, vaporwave, just anything you can dance and sing to.

Tarot• Temperance, fool card, three of cups, the tower, 9 of cups (based off of how people see him through their tarot cards) 

Scents/Inscene • Pine incense,  frankensince, patchouli and vanilla, nutmeg, mulled wine, storax, and Benzoin.

Prayers•

Regular prayer

Dionysos, god whose arrival is swift and certain, enduring friend of women and men whose welcome is warm, bringer of light, we see you in shadows. Dionysos, granter of great blessings, your presence is a heady wine. Kind-hearted god, to each you give as is fitting, each vessel you fill only as we can bear, and yet with even a sip, we are drunk upon you, and our faith is affirmed. Awesome god, by our own will we drink deeply, with you we become lost, we wander, we are found.

Litany to Dionysos

Dionysos of the vine, rich-tressed god of wine, potent and lusty, unmixed, undiluted, with full force you come to us, vital and robust, rich and strong and surprisingly sweet. Dionysos, I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings. Ivy-bearing Dionysos, god of the green, of the power of root on stone, the force of life that will make its own way in spite of all who labor to hold it back, no will or work can bind your might. I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings. Dionysos of the deep earth, of the dark world, of the unknown expanse beneath the black soil, beneath solid stone, of mysteries you know much, of death and of what lies beyond. God of secrets, I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings. Dionysos the inspiring, granter of words of prose or poesy, words heard best by the drunken and the mad, words forgotten with the passing of night and delight. Bacchus, granter of rare transport, I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings. Dionysos Soter, holder of the hearts of men, you free us from the cares of the world, each brilliant frenzied moment a shining jewel, each glimpse of the sacred more precious than gold. I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings. Kindly Dionysos, granter of good to men and women, giver of gifts to all who seek your blessing. Gracious Dionysos, accepter of offerings great and small, friend of mankind, I praise and honor you, I thank you for your blessings.

Regular Prayer to Dionysos

Dionysos, deep-hearted one who knows the souls of men and women, whose hand is ever open, ever within reach. Dionysos, god who runs in the dark, who sees with eyes shut tight, who dances to the heart’s strong beat, ever are you yourself, ever constant, ever changing god of those who are trapped, those who seek your truth and their own, those who seek vision beyond seeing, those who seek wisdom beyond knowledge, those who seek the self, pure and sweet, those who seek clarity beyond definition, who seek to embrace the uncertain, to hold, but loosely, to what is true beyond trust.

Regular prayer to Dionysos

I praise Dionysos, lord of the vine, lord of the far reaches of the mind; in the thick of the woods, along darkened paths, in the shadows of dusk and of dawn, you roam the world, the satyrs and the pretty nymphs dancing in your wake. Son of Zeus and fair-haired Semele, bold-hearted Semele, who dared to look into the face of glory, beautiful Semele who you carried into life again, Semele reborn who men called Thyone; beloved of clever Ariadne, quick-witted one, so dear to your heart, your bright-eyed bride and consort; Dionysos, friend of women, friend of the blissful, wild-eyed maenads, pilgrims and pioneers, those who seek, your cheer and inspiration, those who seek your release, from sorrow and despair, those who are lost in joy, and those who have found themselves in you. Dionysos, god of the darkest dark and the deepest deep, boundless one, endless one, fathomless one, in you we see the edges of ourselves, in you, we find our life’s journey, in you we find our home.

To Dionysos

I call to Dionysos, great god of the vine, son of thundering Zeus and headstrong Semele, loving husband of warm-hearted Ariadne. From the east you came, old before the ancients, throughout the elder world were you beloved; in Naxos and Boitia were you celebrated, in temples and in the savage wilderness, the fleet-footed maenads running in your wake. The sweetest, strongest wine is ever your drink; the mind’s release, the body’s loosening, your gift. O Dionysos; thyrsus-shaker, ivy-crowned god, we see you in the shadows, we see you on the edges, we see you in the haze of ecstasy, where we know the truth of passion, where we find the essence of our being. Bacchus, I call to you!

| Sources & websites in comments. |

I use resources, I do not own the info, and most deep dives have UPG (that I use in my work.) And I only take some information from sources. I am 14, this is my hobby, I am learning but I spent many hours and days on this, and I am always open to criticism. I have been doing worship for 5 years. Please know you can use the info, I do not sue, but I will take action if this work is used without permission and not put as a resource if used in any work. without permisson and not put as a resource if used in any work, for the public.

[sixteenseveredhands]

The Petelia Tablet, Greek, c.300-200 BCE: this totenpass (a "passport for the dead") was meant to be buried in a human grave; it bears an inscription that tells the dead person exactly where to go and what to say after crossing into the Greek Underworld

Made from a sheet of gold foil, this tablet measures just 4.5cm (a little over 1.5 inches) in length, and although it was found inside a pendant case in Petelia, Italy, it's believed to have originated in ancient Greece. It was meant to aid the dead in their journey through the Underworld -- providing them with specific instructions, conferring special privileges, and granting them access to the most coveted realms within the afterlife.

The Petelia tablet, displayed with the pendant case in which it was discovered

The tablet itself dates back to about 300-200 BCE, while the pendant case/chain that accompanies it was likely made about 400 years later, during the Roman era. It's believed that the tablet was originally buried with the dead, and that an unknown individual later removed it from the burial site and stuffed it into the pendant case. Unfortunately, in order to make it fit, they simply rolled it up and then snipped off the tip of the tablet. The final lines of the inscription were destroyed in the process.

The inverse side of the Petelia tablet

These textual amulets/lamellae are often referred to as totenpässe ("passports for the dead"). They were used as roadmaps to help guide the dead through the Underworld, but they also served as indicators of the elite/divine status of certain individuals, ultimately providing them with the means to obtain an elevated position in the afterlife.

The Petelia tablet is incised with an inscription in ancient Greek, and the translated inscription reads:

You will find a spring on your left in Hades’ halls, and by it the cypress with its luminous sheen.

Do not go near this spring or drink its water. You will find another, cold water flowing from Memory’s lake; its guardians stand before it.

Say: "I am a child of Earth and starry Heaven, but descended from Heaven; you yourselves know this. I am parched with thirst and dying: quickly, give me the cool water flowing from Memory’s lake."

And they will give you water from the sacred spring, and then you will join the heroes at their rites.

This is [the ... of memory]: [on the point of death] ... write this ... the darkness folding [you] within it.

The final section was damaged when the tablet was shoved into the pendant case; sadly, that part of the inscription does not appear on any of the other totenpässe that are known to exist, so the meaning of those lines remains a mystery (no pun intended).

Lamellae that are inscribed with this motif are very rare. They're known as "Orphic lamellae" or simply "Orphic tablets." As the name suggests, these inscriptions are traditionally attributed to an Orphic-Bacchic mystery cult.

The inscriptions vary, but they generally contain similar references to a cypress tree, one spring that must be avoided, another spring known as the "Lake of Memory," the sensation of thirst, and a conversation with a guardian (or another entity within the Underworld, such as the goddess Persephone) in which the dead must present themselves as initiates or divine individuals in order to be granted permission to drink from the Lake of Memory. They are thereby able to obtain privileges that are reserved only for the elite.

Though the specifics of this reward are often vague, it may have been viewed as a way to gain access to the Elysian Fields (the ancient Greek version of paradise) or as a way to participate in sacred rites; some totenpässe suggest that it may have allowed the soul to break free from the eternal cycle of reincarnation. Regardless, the overall objective was likely the same: to obtain a special status and acquire privileges that were inaccessible to most of the souls in the Underworld.

Sources & More Info:

Altlas Obscura: The Ancient Greeks Created Golden Passports to Paradise

The Museum of Cycladic Art: The Bacchic-Orphic Underworld

Bryn Mawr College: Festivals in the Afterlife: a new reading of the Petelia tablet

The Getty Museum: Underworld (imagining the afterlife)

The British Museum: Petelia tablet (with pendant case; chain)

[obsidian-pages777]

Dionysus in your astrology chart. Where do you receive Revelry, Pleasure and transformation?

Asteroid Dionysus, named after the Greek god of wine, ecstasy, and revelry, can influence various aspects of life depending on its placement in an astrology chart. Each house represents a different area of life, and Dionysus's placement can highlight where a person might experience themes related to pleasure, creativity, chaos, and transformation.

Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, fertility, and revelry, is a complex and fascinating figure whose mythology weaves together themes of ecstasy, chaos, and transformation. Born to Zeus, the king of the gods, and the mortal Semele, Dionysus’s birth was marked by tragedy and divine intervention. Hera, Zeus’s wife, tricked Semele into demanding Zeus reveal his true form, which incinerated her. Zeus saved the unborn Dionysus by sewing him into his thigh until he was ready to be born. This unusual birth symbolized Dionysus’s dual nature as both divine and mortal. Raised by nymphs, Dionysus grew to embody the life force and was associated with the vine, which produces wine, a substance that can both delight and destroy.

Dionysus wandered the world, spreading the art of viticulture and the ecstatic worship that accompanied it. His followers, known as Maenads or Bacchae, would enter frenzied states of ecstasy through dance, music, and intoxication, often losing themselves in the process. Dionysus’s mythology also includes themes of resistance and acceptance. For instance, King Pentheus of Thebes resisted Dionysus's influence, only to be driven mad and ultimately torn apart by his own mother in a bacchic frenzy. Conversely, Dionysus was also a god of liberation, bringing joy and divine madness that could free individuals from societal constraints. He represents the primal, untamed aspects of human nature, the potential for both creation and destruction inherent in ecstasy and revelry.

Here is an interpretation of Dionysus in each house:

1st House (Ascendant)

Influence: This placement brings a vibrant, charismatic, and magnetic personality. Individuals may have a strong desire for self-expression and indulgence. They might be seen as exciting, unpredictable, and sometimes chaotic.

2nd House

Influence: Dionysus here can indicate a love for luxury and material pleasures. There may be a tendency to spend impulsively or to find joy and meaning through possessions and sensory experiences.

3rd House

Influence: This placement can make communication lively and expressive. There might be a penchant for storytelling, social interactions, and a playful approach to learning and sharing information.

4th House (IC)

Influence: With Dionysus in the 4th house, the home and family life might be dynamic and sometimes tumultuous. There could be a strong connection to family traditions involving celebration and revelry.

5th House

Influence: This is a powerful placement for creativity, romance, and pleasure. Individuals might seek excitement and drama in love affairs and creative pursuits, enjoying a life filled with passion and artistic expression.

6th House

Influence: Dionysus in the 6th house can indicate a need to find joy in daily routines and work. There may be a struggle between maintaining order and giving in to chaos, or a desire to bring creativity and playfulness into work environments.

7th House (Descendant)

Influence: In the house of partnerships, this placement can bring dynamic and sometimes tumultuous relationships. There may be a draw towards partners who are exciting and unpredictable, with a focus on intense, transformative connections.

8th House

Influence: This placement suggests a deep connection with the themes of transformation, sexuality, and the taboo. There might be intense emotional experiences and a desire to explore the darker, more mysterious sides of life.

9th House

Influence: Dionysus in the 9th house can bring a love for adventure, travel, and philosophical exploration. Individuals might seek ecstatic experiences through expanding their horizons and embracing different cultures and beliefs.

10th House (MC)

Influence: In the career and public life house, Dionysus can indicate a public persona that is charismatic and possibly controversial. There might be a drive to achieve recognition through unconventional means and a desire to stand out.

11th House

Influence: This placement can make social circles and friendships vibrant and dynamic. Individuals might be drawn to groups and causes that celebrate freedom, creativity, and unconventional lifestyles.

12th House

Influence: Dionysus in the 12th house can indicate a deep, hidden connection to the unconscious mind, spirituality, and mysticism. There may be a tendency towards escapism, and a need to balance the desire for transcendence with grounded reality.

Summary

Asteroid Dionysus's placement in the astrological houses highlights areas of life where themes of pleasure, creativity, chaos, and transformation are prominent. Understanding this can help individuals navigate their tendencies and harness the dynamic energy of Dionysus in a constructive way.

[hyakinthou-naos]

Theoi Info Sheets Series Part 9: Dionysus

Bacchic Lord of Madness,

King Insanity,

When all the world has abandoned you

Marked you wrong Marked you foreigner Marked you trespasser in your own home

We will sing for you

Pulse pounding in ringing ears Blood dripping from unwashed hands Feet bruised from dancing, or chasing, or fleeing, And who can truly tell the difference?

Oh Lord of Wine and Pleasure

Oh King of Woods and Forests

Dionysus Mainolês Dionysus Nyktelios Dionysus Dimêtôr Dionysus Saôtês

Let our cries make tragedies

Let our screams be symphonies

If all the world's a stage - Then Lord of play and theatre Let this be not the finale - but just an intermission Let the show go on.

- A Show of Maddness; A Hymn to Dionysus

Dionysus is a God unique in my personal practice. Typically those within my Personal Pantheon are worked with, honored, and worshipped regularly.

However, while I consider Dionysus part of my personal pantheon, I commune with Him infrequently and He does not hold a standing spot on my altar.

Dionysus, to me, is like a comet. He comes around every so often, sometimes when expected and other times when not; but He is always welcome.

I often synchronize Him with Lord Shiva, the Destroyer - and in that way when I feel closer to Him when engaging in the Hindu parts of my practice. Which, like my interactions with Lord Dionysus, are infrequent and often unplanned.

He is a divinity of mystery, with layers and depth that I feel are hard to understand. He, to me, is like a Solar Eclipse; rare and beautiful but something I cannot look at directly or regularly.

Divider/Banner Credit

*You may have seen this info sheet before on thewitchfarhan.tumblr.com - that is my old Tumblr. These info sheets are my own creation - please do not repost without credit.

[artemis-potnia-theron]

Personal prayers based on epithets 💙

Dionysus 🍷 🐆 🎭

Praise to twice-born and double-formed Dionysus. He of Bacchic frenzy. He of the night and of the torches. Boisterous bringer of wine. Golden-horned citzen sewn into the thigh of Zeus.

He of the feast. Mad and raging ecstatic howl of joy. He of the phallus. Androgynous ivy-bearer. Man-slayer and protector of the streets. That which cannot be spoken.

The good spirit. Blooming and crowned with flowers. Savior and appointer-of-destiny. He of release, of liberation, of freedom. He of the mysteries. Earth-shaking God of wine. Praise to Dionysus, sparkling and fruitful.

[coinandcandle]

Dionysus Deity Guide

Content warning: Dionysus is linked heavily with sexuality and sexual themes will be prevalent throughout this post.

Who is Dionysus?

Also spelled “Dionysos”, he is the Greek god of wine, ecstasy, and theatre to name a few of his areas of expertise. He was later adopted by the Romans who referred to him as Bacchus. Dionysus was known as being “twice born” due to the story of his birth(s).

The story of Dionysus’ birth is a tragedy, beginning his life with his mother’s death. The story goes that Hera caught wind of Semele’s pregnancy with Zeus’ child and convinced her to ask Zeus to show her his true godly form in order to prove that he really was Zeus. This true form was too much for a mortal to handle and Semele was consumed by fire—or the heat Zeus’ lightning bolts. Not wanting his child to die with her, Zeus sewed Dionysus into his own thigh (thought to mean his testicles).

Parents and Siblings

Zeus (Father)

Semele (Mother)

Demeter (Mother, at times)

Persephone (Mother in Orphic mythos)

Siblings

Aeacus

Angelos

Apollo

Ares

Artemis

Athena

Eileithyia

Enyo

Eris

Ersa

Hebe

Helen of Troy

Hephaestus

Heracles

Hermes

Minos

Pandia

Persephone

Perseus

Rhadamanthus

Tantalus

the Graces

the Horae

the Litae

the Muses

the Moirai

Lovers or Partners

Ariadne (Wife/Consort)

Aphrodite

Aura

Beroe

Cronois

Nicaea

Althaea

Erigone

Pellene

Physcoa

Ampelus

Polymnus or Hyplipnus

Children

HYMENAIOS/Hymenaeus (Son)

IAKKHOS (Iacchus) (Son)

METHE (Daughter)

PASITHEA (Daughter)

PRIAPOS/Priapus (Son)

SABAZIOS/Sabazius (Son)

TELETE (Daughter)

THYSA (Daughter)

DEIANEIRA (Daughter)

EURYMEDON (Son)

KERAMOS/Ceramus (Son)

NARKAIOS/Narcaeus (Son)

OINOPION/Oenopion (Son)

PEPARETHOS/Peparethus (Son)

PHANOS (Son)

PHLIASOS or PHLIAS (Son)

STAPHYLOS/Staphylus (Son)

THOAS

Epithets

Note: Dionysus has many epithets and to create a list of all of them would make this post WAY too long so I’ve added as many as I could while retaining a good length for the post. :,>

Dionysus Eleutherios ("the liberator")

Acratophorus, Ἀκρατοφόρος ("giver of unmixed wine"), at Phigaleia in Arcadia

Acroreites at Sicyon

Androgynos Ἀνδρόγυνος (androgynous, specifically in intercourse) referring to the god taking both an active male and a passive female role.

Bassareus, Βασσαρεύς a Thracian name for Dionysus, which derives from bassaris or "fox-skin", which item was worn by his cultists in their mysteries.

Braetes, Βραίτης ("related to beer") at Thrace

Cistophorus Κιστοφόρος ("basket-bearer, ivy-bearer"), Alludes To baskets being sacred to the god.

Dimetor Διμήτωρ ("twice-born") Refers to Dionysus's two births.

Dendrites Δενδρίτης ("he of the trees"), as a fertility god.

Enorches ("with balls"), with reference to his fertility, or "in the testicles" in reference to Zeus' sewing the baby Dionysus "into his thigh", understood to mean his testicles). Used in Samos and Lesbos.

Iacchus, Ἴακχος a possible epithet of Dionysus, associated with the Eleusinian Mysteries. In Eleusis, he is known as a son of Zeus and Demeter. The name "Iacchus" may come from the Ιακχος (Iakchos), a hymn sung in honor of Dionysus.

Lenaius, Ληναῖος ("god of the wine-press")

Phleus ("related to the bloοm of a plant").

Pseudanor Ψευδάνωρ (literally "false man", referring to his feminine qualities), in Macedonia.

Tauros, Ταῦρος ("a bull"), occurs as a surname of Dionysus.

(Wiki)

Notes

Dionysus may have been worshipped as early as c. 1500–1100 BC by Mycenaean Greeks.

After birth Dionysus was said to have been sent to be cared for by Nymphs at Mount Nysa, the identities of these Nymphs varies by source.

His wife, Ariadne, was abandoned by Theseus on the island of Naxos. In some myths she is slain and/or ascends to immortality to live with her husband on Mt. Olympus.

Once he was an adult, Dionysus traveled to the underworld to bring his mother back with him to Olympus where it’s said that Zeus then turned her into the goddess Thyone—Goddess of the Bacchic frenzy that his female followers experience.

Dionysus is regularly found with groups of satyrs and maenads.

Another name the Greeks had for Dionysus was Bacchus, this was the name the Romans would later adopt for the god. Bacchus means “the noisy or riotous god”, fitting for this buck-wild deity! (Said with affection, of course.)

Along with wine, ecstasy, and theatre, Dionysus was known as a god of vegetation, madness, and frenzy along with quite a few other specializations.

Once a group of pirates kidnapped Dionysus who planned to sell him as a slave (or other unsavory things, depending on the myth); he overran their boat with creeping vines and beasts, and caused the men to go insane, then turned them into dolphins as they jumped overboard.

Dionysus has been depicted in many ways over time but two prevalent depictions are either him as an androgynous youth or an old, bearded man.

Apparently Dionysus hates owls; rather he hates the “sight of an owl” (Theoi)

As Bacchus he was commonly depicted as having ram or bull horns.

Dionysus had many cults throughout the ancient world including not just Greece, but in Scythia, Eastern Europe, Libya, North Africa and Gaul, Southern France as well.

Modern Deity Work

Correspondences

These are not all historically accurate. Anything that has a background in ancient tradition will be marked with a (T).

Rocks/Stone/Crystals

Grape Agate

Amethyst (it was believed that this stone could protect you from drunkenness)

Antimony

Gold

Garnet

Ruby

Herbs/Plants

Pinecone & Pine tree (due to his staff being tipped with a pinecone) (T)

Grapes/grapevines (T)

Ivy (T)

Asphodel (T)

Animals

Leopard or Panther

Tiger

Bull

Serpent

Dolphins (T)

Fawns (his followers were said to wear fawn-skins)

Important Dates

Dionysia

Haloa

Ascolia

Lenaia

Bacchanalia

Offerings

Wine (T)

Objects or imagery of the aforementioned items and animals

Fruit or fruit salad

Honey

Beer

Acts of Devotion

Go buck-wild (half joking here)

Dance

Host festivities

Sing

Attend, write, or act in a play (T)

Sign, create, or recite Hymns to Dionysus (T)

Protect or be an ally for queer, androgynous, and gender non-conforming folks

Dress up in costumes

Make a mask for him (T)

Have sex or solo sex

As the god of comedy he'd also probably enjoy stand-up comedians just sayin

Be yourself!! Dionysus is especially known to love on outcasts.

All in all, how you interact with a deity is up to you, these are simply a few suggestions for you based on my readings!

References and Further Reading

Dionysus - Britannica

Dionysus - Wikipedia

Dionysos - Theoi

The Bacchae - Ancient-Literature

The Masque of Dionysus by Helene P. Foley

The Frogs - Aristophanes (wiki summary, but there are free pdfs of the translated story!)

Misc Myths: Dionysus - Overly Sarcastic Productions

Ecstasy and Possession: The Attraction of the Women to the Cult of Dionysus

Cult of Dionysos - Theoi

[meadowtwins]

Information sheet about Dionysus 🍇:

When being interested in deity worship it is important to do the regarding research about, well, everything. Not every source is tells you all the Information you need to gather. There's always gonna be a few questions you may have left unanswered so I'll try to mash it all up together in one post as a (hopefully) trustworthy source! The Information gathered below me, beside the basics is mostly based on all the questions I used to have that were left unanswered for a LONG while. (Long Post ahead)

Dionysus (Di-on-y-sus) also called Bacchus, is a member of the twelve greek Olympians. He is roughly classified as God of wine, fertility, vegetation, reincarnation, parties and festivites, comedy and tragedy plays, madness and wilderness. Bacchus is the Roman given name, depraved from the frenzy and madness he induced, called Baccheia. Additionally the Romans called him Liber Pater, meaning free father.

Family: His Father was Zeus, his Mother the mortal Semele (who was also classified as the Goddess of Bacchic frenzy), no full blooded siblings, his Wife was Ariadne

Myth: Simply told, Zeus and Semele were lovers. Hera, Wife of Zeus and Goddess of lawful marriages, women and family and marital harmony, felt jealousy and persuaded a pregnant Semele to ask Zeus if he would show her his true self. Now this part gets told each way, he agrees and his godly divinity burns her to death, or her consistant asking made him so angry that he let thunder rain onto her, resulting into her death. Either way, after her Death, Zeus feels compassion for the yet unborn child, cuts it out off Semeles body to sew it into his thigh until it can rightfully be born. The next part gets told differently. After his birth, Hera was so enranged that he was alive that she ordered the Titans to kill him. After they have ripped him apart, Rhea allegedly revived him again and Zeus ordered him to be brought up by the Nymphs. His attribute of the reincarnation steems from this myth. Differently it gets told like this: When he was born, out of protection, he was given to a foster parent. Now this again is different in each myth. Sometimes he was entrusted to Hermes, other times Seilenos, even after that he was given to Semeles sister and her husband. Eventually Hera found out about his location and drove the couple into madness, letting them murder each other. After this he wandered the world in search of his purpose. During his travels he learned of vine, wine-making, etc. He arrived in Greece then Thebes long time after trying to establish a reign. Marking his name as God of Epiphany (The god who comes). The, mostly winemaking skills, he has learned abroad impressed the people. But the ones in power, such as his cousin Perseus, denied his worship and disbelieved his divinity. Soon he has gotten his own cult under the influence of ecstasy and madness. Mostly the woman of Thebes have taken a liking to his influence, they were called Maenads. Everyone who was against his reign and the madness he spread were destroyed (by his Thyrsus in the Myths). His influence became wide spread, marking his title as the God of madness and frenzy.

Cultural context: Knowingly, he was worshipped in Naxos, Boiotia and Edonia. There he was seen as a God of Orphic Mysteries, A God of the Eleusinian Mysteries or God of the vegetable Gardens.

Attributes: Grape-vine, Ivy crown, Thyrsus, Parties and Festivites, Wilderness and Vegetation and Comedy and Tragedy Plays

Sacred things: Thyrsus, grape-vine, Ivy, Cinnamon, Silver Fir, Bindweed, Wheat, Barley, Leopard, Cheetah, Tiger, Goat, Donkey, Lion, Serpent, Wild bull, Apples, Figs, Berries, Acting, Wine, Drunkeness and Pleasure, Festivites, Ecstasy, Reincarnation, Predatory big cats, Homosexuality, the Colors Red, Purple, Gold and the Card of the Devil/Hanged Man

His Worship: Broadly his cult was called Bacchic, the followers Bacchantes. Some called it Dionysian Mysteries. He was called Dionysus Eleutherius, the liberator, as his wine, the madness and ecstasy free his followers from their monotone life and subvert their fear into something powerful. Those who believed in him were at first ridiculed until they realized what the consequences of being against his reign entailed. The first of his followers were the women, who were called Maenads. In their madness they tore wild animals apart, wearing their fur as devotion and even their family, believing them to be leopards/panthers of that sort. These Maenads additionally wore Ivy crowns as to honor Dionysus' attributes. Under his influence people were believed to be possessed by his godly powers, letting them gain unhuman strength. Followers of him included spirits of fertility, such as Satyrs.

Festivities: Dionysia (lesser Dionysia) was one of the oldest festivals in dedication to Dionysus. It was said to celebrate to cultivation of vine. Timewise it was celebrated around modern December/January. It was centered on a procession, followed by drama performances. City Dionysia (greater Dionysia) was a festival held three month after lesser Dionysia, modern March/April. This festival was more elaborate and carried more worthy offerings such as wooden statue of Dionysus. The followed drama performances were performed by more noteworthy playwrights. Anthesteria celebrated the beginning of spring. It span across three days, with each day regarding a tradition in honor of Dionysus.

Offering Ideas (traditional and modern): Alcohol (specifically Red wine), Bottles, Corks, Cider, Honeyed Milk, Water, weed or any type of hallucenigens, Drugs, Grape (Grape flavored things), ticket to the Theatre, Costumes/Masks, Pinecones, Fennel, any Wildflower, Figs, Ivy, Honey, Bones, imagery of his sacred animals, preserved Animals, fur cloth, Wheat, Barley, Olive Oil, Musk, Bread, Grape-Vine, Fruit, anything regarding Homosexuality or Effeminaty, Cinnamon, Silver Fir, Apples, storax, thistle, Black diamonds, frankincense, Golden jewerly, Amethyst/Tigereye, concert tickets, any imagery of his attributes, devotional acts of listening to music, singing, going drinking/partying, learning about his attributes, braiding hair, letting your hair grow out, making devotional art/hymns/prayers, wear his colors, sexual acts (only if you're comfortable with that), confidence in yourself, in ancient greece Maenads made blood offerings due to his connection with the dead (see: the myth of him going to the underworld to save his Mother Semele) but be REALLY careful if actually doing that

How to pray/offer to Dionysus: When praying to a Chthonic God you would have your head and hands down with your hair open. The Prayer can be anything. There is an actual structure of a hellenic prayer (invocation, argument, request) but during modern times it isn't necessary. Be respectful and thank him. Traditionally his offerings were burned but again, no necessity. Be sure to have some sort of protection during an offer/a prayer. "Euoi" was a passion cry from Bacchic worshippers that is still used today. You could use it in a prayer!

This is all the main information I've gathered so far. When coming to connect with gods its important to know what they represent and what they're known for.

Happy Witching!

Additional links to check out if you want to learn more about his myths or his connection to his attributes:

[30fury]

The metaphorical description of mania as being driven by a whip has its counterpart in actual whipping or beating as part of the mysteries. Ritual beating is suggested by a term in Hesykhios: θυρσοπλῆες· οἱ ἐν τοῖς Βακχείοις ἐνθεαζόμενοι "thyrsos-struck: those transported during Bacchic revelry". The winged figure on the Villa of the Mysteries fresco raises a rod over a woman's bared back, and women were flogged (μαστιγοῦνται γυναῖκες) at the Skiereia, a festival of Dionysos celebrated in Arcadian Alea (Pausanias 8.23.1). [...] The unexpectedness of the attack is a salient feature of the mysteries-plot, present in the myths of Dionysos and Kore, and emphasized in both cases by their innocent play immediately before death. The same suddenness and unpredictability is a hallmark of Dionysos' manic power.

Olga Levaniouk, The Toys of Dionysos, in Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, 2007, pp. 165-202.

[dionysianfreak]

Euripides, The Bacchae

They tell me, too, some oriental conjurer has come from Lydia, a magician with golden hair flowing in scented ringlets, His face flushed with wine, His eyes lit with the charm of Aphrodite; and He entices young girls with His Bacchic mysteries, spends days and nights consorting with them.

Once let me get that fellow inside my walls — I'll cut His head from His shoulders: that will stop Him drumming with His thyrsus,

[satyrmagos]

A pair of pins featuring the staring eyes of Dionysos, my second Pride 2023 offering.

Dionysos, the many-natured god associated with mystery, ecstasy, madness, and contagion, has been widely recognized as a god of queer desires and queer bodies for centuries. To worship Dionysos is to be penetrated by him – by drinking of his wine, or even through the staring eyes of his icons and idols. These are those eyes: entrancing, bewitching, possessing.

I know that I’m several years behind on the collar-pin trend, but these Bacchic eyes are worth bringing it back.

It is worth noting that the eyes of Dionysos closely resemble the eyes of Classical Gorgoneions, and the eyes painted on the prows of ships, both intended to ward off evil.

Available either as loose pins, as pins with a chain strung between them, or – on special request – as a festoon necklace to hang around your neck.

[thesearchforbluejello]

I have to admit, I'm not enjoying season two all that much. Secret kid is such a broke fantasy trope, and while that can sometimes be used to great advantage, I just didn't enjoy it here. I felt like Lucy Lawless made me get it but the writing just didn't? But I am predisposed to not like that trope, so maybe it was just me.

I did quite like Remember Nothing, which again is a trope, but I feel like it's one that gives so much more to work with in any context.

And like... I feel like Girls Just Want to Have Fun was just an excuse to give wlw everywhere a fucking heart attack. And once again, I am EXTREMELY predisposed to not like almost any retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice, but I didn't really care about that here. I do however have a lot to say about Bacchic epithets, the Bacchic Mysteries, and Euripides' Bacchae, and I feel like they really did my boy Bacchus rough with that whole Satan getup. I was mostly apathetic towards this episode though.

HOWEVER, Callisto really has the market cornered on entertainingly insane warlords, so maybe things are looking up.

[sunnyapollonjabrigidotter]

The cult of Dionysus in ancient Greece was characterized by a variety of ecstatic ritual practices and festivals that celebrated the god's domain over wine, revelry, and the transformative power of ritual madness. Some of the key rituals and festivals associated with the Dionysian cult included:

The Dionysia Festivals:

- The City Dionysia - Held annually in Athens, this was the most important festival honoring Dionysus. It featured theatrical performances, parades, and sacrifices.

- The Rural Dionysia - Smaller festivals held in rural areas and villages, focused on more rural, agricultural aspects of Dionysian worship.

- The Lenaia - A mid-winter festival celebrated in Athens, featuring dramatic performances and ritual madness.

(Here are just some of them, ofc)

Source.. X (on Lenaia)

Dionysian Mysteries:

- Secret, initiatory rites and rituals practiced by devotees of Dionysus. These often involved altered states of consciousness, ecstatic dancing, and reenactments of mythological events.

- Participants would don masks and costumes to take on the identities of Dionysian figures like maenads (frenzied female followers) and satyrs.

- These rituals were seen as a means of experiencing divine possession and communion with the god.

Dithyrambs and Bacchic Rites:

- Choral hymns and dances performed in honor of Dionysus, often in a frenzied, ecstatic manner.

- Participants would work themselves into a ritual frenzy through chanting, drumming, and drinking wine.

- These rites were closely associated with the mythology of Dionysus and his thiasos (retinue) of satyrs and maenads.

(Source" X - Dionysian Thiasos )

Animal Sacrifice and Sparagmos:

- The ritual tearing apart and consumption of animals, such as goats or bulls, was a key practice in some Dionysian cults.

- This "sparagmos" ritual was seen as a means of communing with the god and experiencing his power.

(Attention, this one is dark.. source).

These are just some of the key ritual practices that were central to the worship of Dionysus in ancient Greece. The cult's emphasis on ecstasy, transformation, and the blurring of boundaries between the divine and human realms was a defining feature of this dynamic religious tradition.

[kore-siciliana]

Your Kitchen Table

My friend,

We sat with Gods at your kitchen table

And extracted my heart so it laid bare before us.

“This is your initiation” you said.

How can I weave the mundane alongside ecstasy? 

How can I wash dishes after seeing the faces of my Gods -

When after so long seeming as distant as stars transfixed

Now blaze like hot suns in your living room.

“That is the thing,” they say

“It is your humanity we love.”

I had unburdened my heart of all forbidden desires as if it were a hymn 

And to them, it was sweetened wine.

They had been listening longer than I thought

And waited for me to put name to what I thought shameful.

And what of this shame?  Is that not also my humanity?

“Yes, and we love that of you too 

but it is a ragged coat you must now take off,” they say

“We can teach you to expand the boundaries of your heart.

There is room enough for all

And all that is to come.”

My friend, your kitchen table is the nexus of sacred and mundane

At which we drink our tea in the presence of Gods.

Joyus and bawdy, we enter the mysteries

Divinely inspired, we become Pythiae of laughter.

Our delight is Bacchic with which we dismantle ourselves

And the fears we constructed which we named truths.

We are travelers and take the open hands that have guided so many.

We cross boundaries I thought were solid walls of our reality.

My friend, who knew your kitchen table was capable of hosting the divine.

Who knew it was a place where we could weave the threads of our brief lives alongside the deathless ones.

“That old story? Those scissors don’t exist.” says He who took me by the hand.

“The thread doesn’t end” is just another revelation spoken there while we sit.

There is no holier place I know, my friend, than your kitchen table.

KORE Siciliana, 10/13/23