Dionysus

Post date: Sep 21, 2015 8:55:35 PM

Dionysus was the god of fertility and wine, later considered a patron of the arts. The son of Zeus and Semele, he was the only god with a mortal parent.

Dionysus represents a principle of human behavior: wine can alter your personality, watching theatre can put you in another mindset, and actors disembody another character.

The festival for Dionysus was held in the spring when vines would start bearing leaves. It became one of the most important events of the year and its primary focal point was the theater. Most of the great Greek plays were initially written to be performed at the feast of Dionysus. All participants, writers, actors, spectators, were regarded as sacred servants of Dionysus during the festival.