The Rod of Dionysus, twined with ivy and leaves of grapes (photo)

If you think about the Ancient Hellas, then most of all we know her gods and heroes. However, it should be emphasized that they did not arise suddenly, not simultaneously. And the opinion that the gods lived on a low mountain Olympus is a very ancient idea, which the Greeks quite quickly overcame and placed their gods in the clouds above the clouds.

One of the oldest gods was Dionysus. His cult corresponds to the cult of the dark and mysterious Hecate. Greek religion began, like all archaic religions, from shamanistic initiations, in which women with the Dionysus's staff participated. These were pleas of the gods for fertility and good luck. These were orgiastic cults - rural holidays of Dionysus. The ancients were fascinated by the unpredictable nature of man. They decorated themselves with wreaths from the leaves of the grapes, and Dionysus's staff helped, leaning on it, to quickly move through the mountains and hills and plains.

Appearance of Dionysus

His phenomenon is tragic to the world: he was born three times. He was conceived by Zeus from the beautiful mortal woman of Semele, the daughter of the Theban king, Cadmus. Swore Zeus Semele with an unbreakable oath to fulfill her every request. And the cunning jealous Hera, wishing to destroy Semele and her child, said: "If Zeus loves you as he assures, then let him come to you in all his majesty." Zeus could not refuse and appeared in all its splendor. The thunder of lightning shook the palace, a flash of light flashed in the hands of Zeus. Semele died, but gave birth to a weak boy. He had to die in the fire of a fire. But instantly around the child grew thickets of dense green ivy, shut from the fire and saved him from dying.

Zeus sewed the boy in his thigh, in it he grew up and was born a second time. Zeus gave it to the upbringing of Semele's sister and her husband Atamantu. Hera sent madness to Atamant, and he killed his son and already wanted to kill Dionysus. But Zeus did not allow this. Hermes moved Dionysus to nymphs.

So Dionysus three times avoided death. And he grew up a wonderful god, always handsome and young, who taught people how to grow grapes and make wine from it. He gave people strength, joy and fertility. The Rod of Dionysus became his symbol. And all the women who participated in the Dionysia had in their hands the ivy-wand of Dionysus.

The Dionysian Mysteries

In the cold season - late autumn, and even in winter, obedient Greek women abandoned their homes and families. They started to gather in the streets and squares, drink undiluted wine, dance to rhythmic music, swaying slowly at first, and then faster and faster. Each one had a rod of Dionysus in his hands. At this time, the men did not dare approach them: it was a special magic for worshiping Dionysus, for a plentiful harvest, for protection from hunger, disease and death. To begin with, dancing and laughing wildly, they feasted and violated all conceivable and unimaginable prohibitions: they drank a strong undiluted wine (it had to reveal to them the truth, to give way to other worlds), scattered food as horrible. They likened themselves to gods, to whom no laws are written, and they all can.

Where did the Mysteries go?

They were conducted in gloomy tracts, in the hills by the sea. Dionysus was a dark god, unlike the clear harmonious Phoebe, who has everything clear, sunny, calibrated, calculated. And initially the cult of Dionysus dominated as the god of wine, winemaking, fun, ecstatic dances and mystical delight. There was a collective delight and very powerful hallucinations. This tells a terrible legend. King Pentheus does not recognize Dionysus as a god. But he is to the king in the guise of a stranger and very cruelly jokes over the king: Dionysus drags the king into a bacchanalia, on which one can not appear at all to men. Bacchante under the influence of hallucinations take Pentifeus for a lion. They tear it apart, and the native mother raises her son's head on the staff and ceremoniously carries it to the palace. And then the mother begins to see.

Dionysos Formation

Across Greece, on all its islands and settlements, young Dionysus walks in a wreath of grapes. Around him rotate in a dance with singing and cries of delight, maenads and Bacchante, jump drunken satyrs with goat legs. Behind all they carry on the donkey of a much-drunk silenus - he can not move any more. Next to him is a wineskin with wine. The god is walking happily on the ground. It goes to the sound of music on the green valleys and lawns, over the mountains and coppices in the groves of olives, full of fruits. The whole joy of a full-blooded life is in his power.

The Rod of Dionysus, twined with ivy and leaves of grapes, recalls how he was saved from the flames and how he taught people winemaking.