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smokingbootFascinating documentary by Beeb4 on the cult of Dionysus/Bacchus.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09z8d01/bacchus-uncovered-ancient-god-of-ecstasy
It covers ancient and modern day Greece, Georgia, India and of course, Blighty where an old temple to the god was discovered in London. Not that he needs a temple here really, seeing as his devotees pour out of city offices and get themselves into a thoroughly Bacchic state at the end of every week. Some of the wine you get in city pubs is an initiation ordeal in itself.
The documentary didn't touch on one part of the old myth I find particularly odd. Why does Dionysus fall in love with Ariadne specifically? So she helps Theseus kill the minotaur courtesy of her winding thread, and Theseus carries her off only to dump her on an island (Naxos I think) before he goes home, and there she is found by the God of wine, who lifts her out of her grief, marries her and takes her to the heavens. What is the pull between the god of ecstasy and the woman of the labyrinth?
There is another legend in which she is already in a relationship with Dionysus when Theseus kills her, and the god goes down to the underworld to rescue her, then brings her to the stars again... Either way, Theseus is not good news, and Dionysus is the business. The documentary dwells upon the Roman alarm at drunken powerful women who followed this divine ally and friend to women. It's not hard to see the attraction.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09z8d01/bacchus-uncovered-ancient-god-of-ecstasy
It covers ancient and modern day Greece, Georgia, India and of course, Blighty where an old temple to the god was discovered in London. Not that he needs a temple here really, seeing as his devotees pour out of city offices and get themselves into a thoroughly Bacchic state at the end of every week. Some of the wine you get in city pubs is an initiation ordeal in itself.
The documentary didn't touch on one part of the old myth I find particularly odd. Why does Dionysus fall in love with Ariadne specifically? So she helps Theseus kill the minotaur courtesy of her winding thread, and Theseus carries her off only to dump her on an island (Naxos I think) before he goes home, and there she is found by the God of wine, who lifts her out of her grief, marries her and takes her to the heavens. What is the pull between the god of ecstasy and the woman of the labyrinth?
There is another legend in which she is already in a relationship with Dionysus when Theseus kills her, and the god goes down to the underworld to rescue her, then brings her to the stars again... Either way, Theseus is not good news, and Dionysus is the business. The documentary dwells upon the Roman alarm at drunken powerful women who followed this divine ally and friend to women. It's not hard to see the attraction.
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Date: 2018-04-13 12:48 pm (UTC)But if you're looking for something to read, you might want to track The King Must Die down. It stands up to adult scrutiny. :-)
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Date: 2018-04-13 02:41 pm (UTC)