Dionysus

Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, represents not only the intoxicating power of wine but also its social and beneficial influences. He is viewed as the promoter of civilization, a lawgiver, and lover of skeptic as well as the patron deity of agriculture and the theater. He was also known as the Liberator, freeing one from one's normal self, by madness, ecstasy, or wine.

The ancients, through what must have been tragic experience, clearly understood that most of their water supply was unfit for human consumption, therefore for most of the past 10 millennia drinking Wine and beer became an essential part of everyday life. It especially made living in large communities possible.

Considering alcoholic beverages as one of the primary agents for the development of civilization may be a slight overstatement, however for most of the past 10 millennium they have been an indispensable in a world of contaminated and dangerous water supplies.

Dionysus may play a future role in human survival.