Diónysos - The Epithets II

DIÓNYSOS THE EPITHETS II

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ABBREVIATIONS: A list of abbreviations used in the glossary can be found on this page: GLOSSARY HOME PAGE

Lampter - (Gr.) Dionysos the Brilliant. He had a festival at Pellene, in Achaia, which was held by night, and in which the worshippers went to his temple with lighted torches in their hands. (CM*p.182)

Laphystius - name of Dionysos, from the mount Laphystus, in Bœotia. (CM*p.182)

Lenæus - (Gr.) name of Dionysos, presiding over the wine-press. (CM*p.182)

- the Latin: Lenaeus, Lenæan, Bacchic: Lenaei latices, i.e. wine, Lenaeus pater, i.e. Bacchus (LD p. 1049, center column)

Leucyanites - the name of Dionysos on the shores of the Leucyanias, a river of the Peloponnesus, running into the Alpheus. (CM*p.182)

Liber - (Latin)

- name of Dionysos, free; he was so called, either from his delivering some cities of Bœotia from slavery; or, from delivering the mind from care. To the word Liber the Romans subjoined the word Pater (Liber Pater), as though he were the father of Liberty and Joy. (CM*p.182)

- an old Italian deity, who presided over planting and fructification; afterwards identified with the Greek Bacchus. (LD p. 1056, right column, definition 3)

- Liber means free: (one) that acts according to his own will and pleasure, is his own master; free, unrestricted, unrestrained, unimpeded, unshackled; independent, frank, open, bold. (LD p. 1056, right column, definition 1)

Liknites - (Gr. λικνίτης, ΛΙΚΝΊΤΗΣ) (Latin: Liknitus)

- name of Dionysos, from the mystical van, which was carried in his festival Dionysia. (CM*p.182)

- name of Dionysos, from liknon, the winnowing-basket by which Kradiaios Dionysos was carried on her head by the Goddess Hipta to Mount Ida after he had been given birth from Zeus' thigh (genitals). (source: Dionysos by Carl Kerényi, 1976, Princeton Univ. Press, p.260)

Limneus - name of Dionysos at Limnæ, a quarter of Athens. (CM*p.182)

Lyæus - (Gr.) name of Dionysos, loosing the mind from care. (CM*p.182)

Lysimǽrimnos - (lysimerimnos; Gr. λυσιμέριμνος, ΛΥΣΙΜΕΡΙΜΝΟΣ) Lexicon entry: λῡσῐμέριμνος, ον, driving care away, of Dionysus; of Hermes, Orph. H.28.6; of Artemis, Orphic hymn 36.5; of Sleep. (L&S p. 1066, right column, within the entries beginning with λυσιέθειρα, edited for simplicity.)

Lýsios-Linaios - (Lysius Lenæus; Gr. Λὐσιος-Ληναίος)

- Lexicon entry: Λὐσιος [ῡ] α, ον (Λὐσις) releasing, delivering, Λὐσιοι θεοἰ the Gods who deliver from curse or sin; esp. Λὐσιος, as an epithet of Dionysos; Λὐσιοι τελεταἰ, of Dionysos Λὐσιος; also Λὐσειος; voc. Λυσεῦ. (L&S p. 1066, edited for simplicity.)

- Lexicon entry: Ληναῖος, α, ον, (ληνὀς ῑ) belonging to the wine-press; esp. 1. epithet of Dionysos, as God of the wine-press. 2. Λἠναια (sc. ἱερἀ), τἀ, the Lenaea, an Athenian (also Rhodian) festival held in the month Ληαιὠν (i.e. Gamelion) in honour of Dionysus, at which there were dramatic contests, esp. of the Comedic Poets. 3. Λἠναιον, τὀ, the Lenaeum, the place at Athens where the Lenaea were held. (L&S p.1045, edited for simplicity.)

Mælpómænos - (Melpomenos; Gr. Μελπόμενος, ΜΕΛΠΟΜΕΝΟΣ) Mælpómænos is an epithet of Diónysos as was used in ancient Athens (source: Paus.1.2.5), meaning he who sings and dances.

Mæonides - name of Dionysos, from Mæonia. (CM*p.182)

Mæthymnaios - (Gr. μεθυμναῖος, ΜΕΘΥΜΝΑΙΟΣ) Wine-God (Orphic frag. 280).

Mákar - (Gr. μάκαρ, ΜΑΚΑΡ. Adj. masc. & fem. nom. sing.) Dionysos is mákar, happy, as are all the Gods. (Orph. Hymn 30.8)

- Lexicon entry: μάκαρ [v. infr.], ᾰρος, ὁ, also μάκαρς; μάκαρ as fem. μάκαιρα :— blessed, happy, prop. epith. of the Gods, as opp. mortal men, μάκαρες the Blessed Ones; μ. ὀλίζονες lesser Gods—In this sense always in pl., exc. in addressing single Gods; μάκαιρα, of Persephone. II. of men, blest, fortunate; esp. wealthy. III. esp. μάκαρες, οἱ, the blessed dead; μακάρων νῆσοι the Islands of the Blest. IV. Sup. μακάρτατος; μακάρων μακάρτατε, of Zeus. (L&S p. 1073, right column, edited for simplicity.)

Melpomenos - See Mælpómænos.

Merorraphes - (Greek: Μηροῤῥαϕἠς, ΜΗΡΟΡΡΑΦἨΣ) Mærorraphæs = Mærotraphæs, thigh-bred, of Dionysos. (L&S p.1129, right column: Μηροτρᾰϕἠς)

Merotraphes - (Greek: Μηροτρᾰϕἠς, ΜΗΡΌΤΡΑΦἨΣ) Mærotraphæs = Mærorraphæs, thigh-bred, of Dionysos. (L&S p.1129, right column)

Melanaigis - (Gr.) name of Dionysos, clothed in black goat-skin. Melanthius, king of Athens, when on the point of fighting with Xanthus, king of Bœotia, pretended that he saw, at Xanthus' back, a person habited in a black goat-skin. Xanthus, looking back, was slain by Melanthius, who erected a temple to Bacchus, under the title ofMelanaigis. He was also worshipped under this name at Hermione, where games were annually celebrated in his honor, and prizes distributed to the best musician, swimmer, and rower. (CM*p.182)

Melanegis - same as Melanaigis.

Melanthides - same as Melanaigis.

Meliastes - name of Dionysos, from a fountain of that name. (CM*p.182)

Milichius - (Gr.) name of Dionysos, from his having first planted the fig. (CM*p.182)

Mœnoles - (Gr.) name of Dionysos, furious. (CM*p.182)

Morychus - See Mórykhos.

Mórykhos - (Morychus; Gr. Μόρῠχος, ΜΟΡΥΧΟΣ) Μόρῠχος, ὁ, epith. of Dionysus in Sicily, from μορύσσω, because his face was smeared with wine lees (ed. lees are deposits of residual yeast at the bottoms of the barrels of wine) at the vintage: prov., μωρότερος Μορύχου Sophr.94. (L&S p. 1147, left column, edited for simplicity.)

- name of Dionysos, smearing; defiling: under this name he was worshipped by the Sicilians, who, in the season of vintage, were accustomed to smear his statues with sweet wine and figs. (CM*p.182)

Moses - A peculiar old theory: "Others think that Bacchus is Moses, because many things in the fable of one seem derived from the history of the other: For, first, some feign that he was born in Egypt, and presently shut up in an ark, and thrown upon the waters as Moses was. 2. The surname of Bimater, which belongs to Bacchus, may be ascribed to Moses, who, besides one mother by nature, had another by adoption, King Pharaoh's daughter. 3. They were both beautiful men, brought up in Arabia, good soldiers and had women in their armies. 4. Orpheus directly styles Bacchus a law-giver, and calls him Moses, and further attributes to him the two Tables of the Law. 5. Besides, Bacchus was called Bicornis; and accordingly, the face of Moses appeared double-horned when he came down from the mountain, where he had spoken to God; the rays of glory that darted from his brow, resembling the sprouting out of horns. 6. As snakes were sacrificed, and a dog given to Bacchus as a companion, to Moses had this companion Caleb, which in Hebrew signifies a dog. 7. As the Bacchæ brought water from a rock, by striking it with their thyrsus, and the country wherever they came flowed with wine, milk, and honey, to the land of Canaan, into which Moses conducted the Israelites, not only flowed with milk and honey, but with wine also; as appears from that large bunch of grapes which two men carried upon a staff betwixt them. 8. Bacchus dried up the rivers Orontes and Hydaspes, by striking them with his thyrsus and passed through them, as Moses passed through the Red Sea. 9. It is said also, that a little ivy-stick, thrown down by one of the Bacchæ upon the ground, crept like a dragon, and twisted itself about an oak. And, 10. that the Indians once were all covered with darkness, whilst those Bacchæ enjoyed a perfect day." The text goes on to state that the ancient "inventors of fables" stole these and many other stories from the Christian literature. (The Pantheon, Representing the Fabulous Histories of the Heathen Gods, and Most Illustrious Heroes, in Short, Plain, and Familiar Method, By Way of Dialogue. By Andrew Tooke, 1787, p.72)

- Moses was thought not to only be Dionysos, but a major source of the wisdom of Plato and others: "This (ed. that Plato learned much of his philosophy from Moses) was a commonly held view of Hellenistic and Byzantine philosophers. From Philo the Jew of Alexandria in the first century AD down to Michael Psellos in the eleventh, it was a commonplace that Plato drew his wisdom from the Pentateuch, and that he could be regarded in the words of Numenius of Apamea, as an 'Atticizing Moses.' " (George Gemistos Plethon: The Last of the Hellenes by C.M. Woodhouse, 1986, Clarendon Press, Oxford, pp. 64-65)

Myriómorphos - (Gr. Μυριόμορφος) ον, of countless shapes, of Dionysus, AP9.524.13; of Apollo, ib.525.13; of Isis, APl.4.264. II. μυριόμορφον, τό, = Ἀχίλλειος, Ps.-Dsc.4.36. (L&S)

Mysius - name of Dionysos, from Mysia. (CM*p.182)

Mystes - (Greek: Μὐστης, ΜΥΣΤΗΣ) one initiated. (L&S p. 1156, right column); name of Dionysos (Paus. 8.54.5; the Temple of the Mystic Dionysos).

- Mysta or Mystes, (Latin, after the Greek) a priest of the secret rites of divine worship, a priest of the mysteries. (LD p. 1183, right column)

Mysterius - name of Dionysos in Argolis. (CM*p.182)

Narthecophorus - (Gr.) name of Dionysos, from his carrying a ferula or cane. (CM*p.182)

Nebrodes - (Gr.) name of Dionysos, from the fawn-skins which the Bacchanals wore in the celebration of the orgies. (CM*p.182)

Nómios - (Nomius; Gr. νόμιος, ΝΟΜΙΟΣ) Nómios is an epithet of pastoral Gods, i.e. of pastures and flocks, such as Apóllohn, Hermes, Aristaios, and Pan.

- Lexicon entry: νόμιος, α, ον: (νομεύς):— of shepherds, ν. θεός the pastoral God, i.e. Pan; of Apollo, as shepherd of Admetus, Call.Ap.47; of Aristaeus; of Hermes; of Dionysus; of the Nymphs, Orph.H. 51.12; but also, God of Law: of Zeus (ed. νόμος being Law). (L&S, edited for simplicity.)

Nyktælios - (Nyctelius; Gr. Νυκτέλιος, ΝΥΚΤΈΛΙΟΣ), ον, (νύξ) nightly, epith. of Dionysus, from his nightly festivals, AP9.524.14, Plu.2.389a, Paus.1.40.6. 2 νυκτέλιον, τό, night-festival, Ἴσιδος POxy.525 (ii A.D.): in pl., festival of Dionysus Νυκτέλιος, Plu.2.291a. (L&S p. 1183, right column) It should be understood that night in ancient Greek mythology is one of the great keys; night refers to an area of which is unknown and difficult to be understood by ordinary mortals. Night, as a key, does not mean actual darkness, since all the Gods are beings of great enlightenment.

- name of Dionysos, from the celebration of his orgies by night. (CM*p.182)

Nyctelius - See Nyktælios.

Nyktipolos - (Gr. Νυκτιπόλος, ΝΥΚΤΙΠΌΛΟΣ) roaming, by night, Βάκχαι E.Ion718 (lyr.) ; ἔφοδοι, of Persephone, ib.1049 (lyr.) ; epith. of Zagreus, Id.Fr.472.11 (anap.) ; of Artemis, Corn.ND 34: as Subst., coupled with Μάγοι, Βάκχοι, Λῆναι, Heraclit.14. (L&S p. 1184, left column, top of the page, within the entries beginning from the previous page, starting with νυκτῐ-πᾰταιπλάγιος) It should be understood that night in ancient Greek mythology is one of the great keys; night refers to an area of which is unknown and difficult to be understood by ordinary mortals. Night, as a key, does not mean actual darkness, since all the Gods are beings of great enlightenment.

Nysæus - name of Dionysos, from Nyssa, his nurse; or from the town Nysa. (CM*p.182)

Odrysius - name of Dionysos, Thracian; from his having introduced the culture of the vine into (Odrysia) Thrace. (CM*p.182)

Ogygius - name of Dionysos, Theban; from Ogygia, one of the gates of Thebes. (CM*p.182)

Ohmádios - (Omadius; Gr. Ὠμάδιος, ΩΜΑΔΙΟΣ) Lexicon entry: ὠμάδιος [ᾰ], ὁ, (ὠμός) as epith. of Dionysus, = ὠμηστής, because he had human sacrifices at Chios and Tenedos, Orph.H.30.5, Euelp. ap.Porph.Abst.2.55; ὠ. χοροί dances in his honour. 2. raw. (L&S p. 2033, left column, edited for simplicity.)

- name of Dionysos, eating raw meat. In the festivals celebrated in his honor in the islands of Chios and Tenedos, it is said that even a human being was sacrificed, whose limbs were torn piecemeal by the Bacchanals. In these festivals the priests (say some) ate, or rather pretended to eat, raw flesh. It was also customary for them to put serpents in their hair, and in all their behavior to counterfeit madness and distraction. (CM*p. 182)

Omadius - See Ohmádios.

Omestes = Ohmádios; See above.

Omaphagus - same as Omadius above. (CM*p.182)

Omistís = Ohmádios; See above.

Orǽskios - (Orescius; Gr. Ὀρέσκιος, ΟΡΕΣΚΙΟΣ) Lexicon entry: ὀρέσκιος , ον, = sq., of Dionysus, AP_9.524.16. (L&S p. 1247, right column.) Middle Liddel: overshadowed by mountains.

Orescius - See Orǽskios.

Oreus - (Gr.) name of Dionysos, frequenter of mountains; his worship being performed on mountains. (CM*p.183)

Orthius - (Gr.) name of Dionysos, upright; or sober: a name given to Bacchus by Amphictyon, whom that God had taught to temper wine with water. (CM*p.183)

Pacha - Pacha is Etruscan for Vakkhos (Bacchus).

Paián - (Paeon; Gr. Παιάν, ΠΑΙΑΝ. Pronounced pay-AHN.) Lexicon entry: Παιάν, ᾶνος, ὁ, Ep. Παιήων, ονος, Att., Ion. Παιών, ῶνος (v. sub fin.), Aeol. Πάων, ονος—Paean or Paeon, the physician of the Gods. 2. title of Apollo; also of other Gods, Ἀσκληπιὸς; of Zeus at Rhodes; of Dionysus; of Helios. 3. physician, healer. b. saviour, deliverer. II. choral song, addressed to Apollo or Artemis, in thanksgiving for deliverance from evil; addressed to other Gods, as to Poseidon after an earthquake. 2. song of triumph after victory. 3. any solemn song or chant, esp. on beginning an undertaking. (L&S, abbreviated for clarity)

Pais - (Gr. Παῖς, ΠΑΙΣ) Pais is word meaning child and in context refers to Zagréfs (Zagreus; Gr. Ζαγρεύς) who is designated with this name on pottery depicting him found in the sanctuary of the Káveiri (Cabeiri; Gr. Κάβειροι) at Thívai (Thebes; Gr. Θῆβαι) in Viohtía (Boeotia; Gr. Βοιωτία). (Source: Orpheus and Greek Religion by W.K.C. Guthrie, 1952/1993, Princeton Univ. Press [Princeton, NJ USA], pp. 123-124.)

Pamphagus - (Gr.) Dionysos, the all-devourer. (CM*p.183)

Panhellinon - (Gr.) name of Dionysos, perfectly bright. (CM*p.183)

Patroüs - (Gr. Πατρῷος, ΠΑΤΡΩΟΣ) Paternal, father. "Polyidus also built the sanctuary of Dionysus, and dedicated a wooden image that in our day is covered up except the face, which alone is exposed. By the side of it is a Satyr of Parian marble made by Praxiteles. This Dionysus they call Patroüs (Paternal)..." (Paus. Attica, XLIII.5; tr. Jones, vol. I, p.233)

Pericionius - (Gr.) name of Dionysos, worshipped in the peristyle. (CM*p.183)

Phanac - name of Dionysos among the Mysians. (CM*p.183)

Phanaces - name of Dionysos among the Mysians. (CM*p.183)

Pheleon - name of Dionysos, abounding in fruit. (CM*p.183)

Pheleus - name of Dionysos, abounding in fruit. (CM*p.183)

Philommeidís - (philommeides; Gr. φιλομμειδὴς, ΦΙΛΟΜΜΕΙΔΗΣ. Adj.) Lexicon entry: φῐλομμειδής, ές, poet. for φιλομειδής, laughter-loving, epith. of Aphrodite, Od.8.362, Il.3.424, Hes.Th.989: of Dionysus. (L&S p. 1937, right column, within the entries beginning from the left column, edited for simplicity.)

Phohsphóros - (phosphorus; Gr. φωσφόρος, ΠΦΣΦΟΡΟΣ) Lexicon entry: φωσφόρος (parox.), ον, poet. φαοσφόρος, φαεσφόρος Call.Dian.204, etc.:— bringing or giving light; φ. ἀστήρ (ed. star), of Dionysus at the Mysteries. b. Subst., ὁ φ. (sc. ἀστήρ), the light-bringer, i.e. the morning-star, a name specially given to the planet Venus. 2. of the eye. II. torch-bearing, epith. of certain deities, esp. of Hecate; φ. θεά (sc. Ἄρτεμις); of Hephaestus, Orph.H.66.3. III. φωσφόρος, ἡ, torch-bearer, title of a priestess, Κλεοπάτρας θεᾶς. (L&S p. 1968, right column, within the entries beginning with φωσφόρεια, edited for simplicity.)

Ploutodótis (Gr. Πλουτοδότης, ΠΛΟΥΤΟΔΟΤΗΣ) Zefs Ploutodótis is Zefs, the giver of riches. This is also an epithet of Diónysos.

Polites - (Gr.) name of Diónysos, a citizen; his name in Arcadia. (CM*p.183)

Polyhymnus - See Polýÿmnos.

Polývoulos - (Polybulus; Gr. Πολύβουλος, ΠΟΛΥΒΟΥΛΟΣ) Diónysos is polývoulos, exceedingly wise. (Orph. Hymn 30.6)

- Lexicon entry: πολῠβουλος, ον, much-counselling, exceeding wise, Ἀθήνη Il.5.260. (L&S p. 1437, left column, within the entries beginning on the previous page with πολῦανώδῠνος, edited for simplicity.)

Polýÿmnos - (polyhymnus; Gr. πολύυμνος, ΠΟΛΥΥΜΝΟΣ) Lexicon entry: πολύυμνος, ον, abounding in songs, much sung of, famous, θεὸς π., of Dionysus. (L&S p. 1445, left column, within the entries starting from the previous page, edited for simplicity.)

Prohtógonos - (Protogonus; Gr. Πρωτόγονος, ΠΡΩΤΟΓΟΝΟΣ. Adjective.) Diónysos is called Prohtógonos, First-born = Φάνης, in Orph.Hymn 30.2.

- Lexicon entry: πρωτόγονος, ον, also η, ον Paus.1.31.4:—first-born, firstling; φοῖνιξ π. first-born, first-created; of a child. 2. of rank, π. οἶκοι high-born houses. 3. epith. of Gods, Dam.Pr.123 bis; so Πρωτογόνη, ἡ, name of Persephone, Paus. l.c. II. parox. πρωτογόνος, ἡ, bringing forth first. (L&S p. 1545, left column, within the entries beginning with πρωτόᾰλος from the previous page, edited for simplicity.)

Protrygæus - (Gr.) name of Dionysos, so called from new wine. (CM*p.183)

Protryges - (Gr.) name of Dionysos, so called from new wine. (CM*p.183)

Psilas - (Gr.) name of Dionysos, from a Doric word signifying the extremity of a bird's wing; as if men were hurried away and elevated by wine, as birds by their wings. (CM*p.183)

Psykhodaïktís - (Psychodaïktes; Gr. Ψυχοδαϊκτής, ΨΥΧΟΔΑΙΚΤΗΣ) Lexicon entry: ψῡχοδᾰϊκτής, οῦ, ὁ, destroying or killing the soul, epith. of Dionysus, AP9.524.24. (L&S p. 2028, left column)

Psykhoplanís - (Psychoplanes; Gr. Ψυχοπλανής, ΨΥΧΟΠΛΑΝΗΣ) Lexicon entry: ψῡχοπλᾰνής, ές, making the soul wander, epith. of Dionysus. (L&S p. 2028, left column, within the entries beginning with ψυχολιπής.)

Pyrigenes - (Greek: Πυριγενης, ΠΥΡΙΓΕΝΗΣ) name of Dionysos (see Ignigena), born in or from fire (L&S p.1557, left column within the definitions of πῠρῐ-βἠτης) after his mother Semele beheld the glory of Zeus and caught ablaze, Zeus rescued Bacchus from her womb and bound him in his thigh, from which he was born.

Pyrogenæs - (Greek: Πῠρογενἠς, ΠῨΡΟΓΈΝἨΣ) fire-born, of Dionysos. (L&S p.1558, left column)

Pyrosporos - (Greek: Πῠρόσπορος, ΠῨΡΌΣΠΟΡΟΣ)

- born of fire, epithet of Dionysos (L&S p.1558, left column)

- conceived in fire, Pyrispore (Greek: Πυρἰσπορε, ΠΥΡἸΣΠΟΡΕ) [Orphic Hymn 52. To the God of Triennial Feasts]

Rectus - (Latin) (See Orthius, meaning upright.) (CM*p.183)

- the Latin rectus, a, um, Part. and P. a., from rego, (LD p.1537, left column) to keep straight or from going wrong,to lead straight; to guide, conduct, direct. (LD p.1552, left column) II. rectus, led straight along, drawn in a straight line. (LD p.1552, middle column)

Sabadius - see Savazios.

Sabazius - See Savazios.

Saotas - (Gr.) Dionysos the Preserver; his name at Trœzene. (CM*p.183)

Savazios, Sabazius, or Sabdius - (Gr. Σαβἀζιος, ΣΑΒἈΖΙΟΣ) name of Dionysos among the Sabæ, a people of Thrace. One of the mysterious rites of this God was to let a snake slip down the bosom of the person to be initiated, which was taken out below. (CM*p.183)

- Σᾰβάζιος, ὁ, (Σαβός) a Phrygian deity, whose Mysteries resembled the τελεταί of Dionysus; hence afterwards taken as a name of Dionysus himself. II. Adj. Σᾰβάζιος, α, ον, Bacchic. (L&S p.1579, left column)

- Sabazius (collat. form Sebazius, Sebadius or Sabadius, Macr. S. 1, 18; App. M. 8, p.213), 1i, m., = Σαβἀζιος, a surname. I. Of Bacchus, --Hence, Sabazia, orum, n. a festival in honor of Sabazius or Bacchus. II. Of Jupiter: Sabazii Jovis cultus. (LD p.1609, center column)

- In the Orphic hymn, Sabazios is called the son of Kronos (Zeus): "Hear me, father Sabazios, son of Kronos, illustrious God. You sewed into your thigh Bacchic Dionysos,..." (Orphic Hymn 48. To Sabazios, translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis, The Orphic Hymns, 1977; found in the 1988 Scholars Press edition on p.65)

- words related to Sabazios:

σᾰβάζω (sabazo) = εὐάζω. (L&S p.1579, right column) εὐάζω, cry εὐαί, in honour of Bacchus. (L&S, p.705, right column)

σᾰβαῖ (sabai), a Bacchanalian cry, like εὐαί, εὐοῖ. (L&S p.1579, right column)

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Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.

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ABBREVIATIONS: A list of abbreviations used in the glossary can be found on this page: GLOSSARY HOME PAGE

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