One of the things I’d like to do with the House of Vines — aside from continuing to post weird and inspirational things and more Rummelsnuff — is to engage in a deeper conversation about Dionysos here. Sure, I’ve put together a 600 page book on him, but that’s really just scratching the surface. So I ask you, dear readers, what would you like to know about Dionysos?
Actually, there’s a question you might be able to answer for me. A friend of mine was asking about coins that feature Dionysos on one or both sides, and why there might be a connection between Heracles and Dionysos on these coins. It’s something know absolutely nothing about, and I was never able to find a satisfactory answer. Maybe you could help us out?
I’d have to know more about the provenience of the coins in question since currency was a potent form of early propaganda and thus the imagery often reflects current events and interests, local history, regional cults and the political aspirations of those minting them, however, in general I’d say that the likeliest explanation is that Herakles and Dionysos are the royal gods par excellence. During the Archaic period most of the ruling houses claimed descent from Zeus or Herakles (the latter was especially popular among the Dorian tribes) though during the Classical period you start seeing more and more people emphasizing a connection to Dionysos. With the Makedonian ascendancy pretty much every Hellenistic dynast and client-kingdom started claiming Dionysos as their progenitor with the notable exceptions of the Seleukids (who were solidly Apollonian, perhaps because of the earlier prominence of solar deities in the Levant) and some of the Greco-Baktrian and Greco-Indian houses. However, even when the rulers wished to model themselves after Dionysos if they could lay claim to being Heracleidae they most certainly did – one cannot be too legitimate in the eyes of one’s subjects, after all – Marcus Antonius being a perfect example of this.
It makes sense that these two would have this function. Both have a stronger connection to humanity than the other gods, being part-mortal themselves. Both are wide travelers and culture-heroes with impressive mythic resumes and credited with founding important customs and institutions. Both are associated with the symposion and the wise, genteel, and pleasurable qualities that it imbued. You can see why a ruler would want his subjects to think of him as a Dionysos or Herakles redivivus. Interestingly, the pair also share a good deal of other qualities. For instance, both started their careers in madness and had to atone for horrible crimes, both descended into Haides and came back up, both have a thing for bestial fashion accessories. Both have voracious appetites for food, wine and sex. And Aristophanes even has Dionysos dress up as Herakles at one point.
So it could be any of these or it could be something as simple as Herakles was regarded as the legendary founder of the city and they had an important temple of Dionysos there so they made a coin to commemorate that but more commonly it was Athene or Artemis on the obverse with Herakles.
Numismatics is such a fascinating subject.
I’ve always felt a strong connection to Dionysus (primarily), but also Herakles, Alexander, and Zeus, and it’s always interesting to come across new connections between these four.
As far as a question goes, besides Euripides’ “Bakchai” what are some good texts to learn about or read about Dionysus?
There’s quite a bit linking them, especially for the Ptolemies. Could be a whole essay in that!
As for your question, there are a lot of really important ancient sources to read — including stuff not found on theoi.com — but I’d honestly recommend starting off with Walter Otto’s Dionysus: Myth and Cult, Carl Kerényi’s Dionysos: Archetypal Image of Indestructible Life and Arthur Evans’ The God of Ecstasy: Sex Roles and the Madness of Dionysus pretty much in that order. I have a more in depth bibliography in Ecstatic if you really want to delve deeply. (Speaking of which, do you have a copy? If not, let me see if I’ve got a spare one lying around.)
Oooh, I love reading lists :)
I don’t have a copy, but I get paid very soon, and it’s already waiting in my amazon ‘cart.’ Just gotta click “order.” :)
I dunno about the coins, but Herakles is said to of joined Dionysos’ mob after losing a drinking contest, thus the two are often featured together in art.
As for the question, I’m not drunk to really answer it right now. But to me, Dionysos is freedom of life’s fears and inhibitions. This does not require drink, but drink can teach it (or spew it out of you), it’s a nice kick start to your confidence when you are not afraid to do something and succeed, just so happens that wine can help with that :P
Amen to that!
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