Dionysus, The Greek God's Heart
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Dionysus, Twice-Born Greek God
When I was a little girl, I read the story about Dionysus Zagreus' death and rebirth. It is such a dark and violent story, yet so full of hope and the joy of living, and it's such a pity that the school manuals and standard Greek mythology books and tales rarely if ever mention it!
Dionysus is mostly known as the god of wine, followed by drunken and orgiastic acolytes like Silenus with the horse ears and the raving Maenads (bacchantes).
Greek theatre -- the immortal tragedies and comedies of the Attic dramaturgists -- is rooted in the ritualistic festivals surrounding the god's worship. This is also quite widespread knowledge.
What is not so known, is the myth about Dionysus' first birth, under the name of Zagreus. This myth was told to participants of the god's Mysteries and it was cited in the Orphic hymns, a collection of poems attributed to the mythical hero Orpheus (remember Eurydice?)
As is most usually the case, this Greek myth about god Dionysus is immortal, because it speaks of a reality inherent to human nature and human society -- in such simple words!
Dionysus is mostly known as the god of wine, followed by drunken and orgiastic acolytes like Silenus with the horse ears and the raving Maenads (bacchantes).
Greek theatre -- the immortal tragedies and comedies of the Attic dramaturgists -- is rooted in the ritualistic festivals surrounding the god's worship. This is also quite widespread knowledge.
What is not so known, is the myth about Dionysus' first birth, under the name of Zagreus. This myth was told to participants of the god's Mysteries and it was cited in the Orphic hymns, a collection of poems attributed to the mythical hero Orpheus (remember Eurydice?)
As is most usually the case, this Greek myth about god Dionysus is immortal, because it speaks of a reality inherent to human nature and human society -- in such simple words!
How Zeus kills concubine and saves son
Zeus was the king of Greek gods at the time.
One day, he saw a beautiful mortal named Semele, princess of Thebes, and he desired her. He got his way with her. But the jealous wife Hera found out and decided she would come away with her rival.
Hera disguised as an old servant and adviced Semele. "Tell the handsome you want to see him in all his godly glory. But, hey, be careful - he won't do it of his own accord, so you have to trick him and make him promise you. Be sure to make him take the holy unbreakable oath first." Semele thought this was a cool idea.
After impatient Zeus fell for the little ploy, he tried to change the girl's mind. He knew this should not happen, for no mortal could face a god without being consumed by their immortal nature. But Semele, brainwashed by Hera, insisted. (Yes, our neighbours called her Eve, Byzantine Greeks called her Kerkoporta**, etc)
Zeus, the king of kings, the resplended, master of thunder and lightning, appeared - and Semele the mortal was instantly hit by his lightning bolts and consumed by flames.
Semele was some months pregnant - the foetus was not lost though, as Zeus provided for shelter by "sewing" it onto his thigh. When the time was due, Dionysus was born.
One day, he saw a beautiful mortal named Semele, princess of Thebes, and he desired her. He got his way with her. But the jealous wife Hera found out and decided she would come away with her rival.
Hera disguised as an old servant and adviced Semele. "Tell the handsome you want to see him in all his godly glory. But, hey, be careful - he won't do it of his own accord, so you have to trick him and make him promise you. Be sure to make him take the holy unbreakable oath first." Semele thought this was a cool idea.
After impatient Zeus fell for the little ploy, he tried to change the girl's mind. He knew this should not happen, for no mortal could face a god without being consumed by their immortal nature. But Semele, brainwashed by Hera, insisted. (Yes, our neighbours called her Eve, Byzantine Greeks called her Kerkoporta**, etc)
Zeus, the king of kings, the resplended, master of thunder and lightning, appeared - and Semele the mortal was instantly hit by his lightning bolts and consumed by flames.
Semele was some months pregnant - the foetus was not lost though, as Zeus provided for shelter by "sewing" it onto his thigh. When the time was due, Dionysus was born.
The Orphic story about god Dionysus' first birth
He was a child of darkness and lightning
Some myths relate that Dionysus, whom they also call Zagreus, was not the son of Semele, but of Persephone, goddess of the Underworld. This fits perfect with the rest of the story...
Hera's wrath was not appeased. In this case, the rival was a goddess. Hera could not turn against her, so the son was to pay for his parents' affair. Of course, being a queen, Hera wouldn't get her hands dirty - so, she sent in the henchmen.
The Titans approached little Zagreus and - please, pay ATTENTION here
Hera's wrath was not appeased. In this case, the rival was a goddess. Hera could not turn against her, so the son was to pay for his parents' affair. Of course, being a queen, Hera wouldn't get her hands dirty - so, she sent in the henchmen.
The Titans approached little Zagreus and - please, pay ATTENTION here
The Titans lured Zagreus with toys
Something to distract him with
Shiny and desirable
Misleading, serpentine
Eva, Kerkoporta, again
The Titans snatched the boy. They killed him, ripped him apart and ate him.
When they were about to devour his heart, a goddess finally appeared, an ally of Zeus.
It was either Athene, or Rhea (Zeus' mother), or Persephone, the killed boy's mother.
She drove away the Titans and brought the heart to Zeus. Zagreus was saved.
Zeus got involved with Semele, gave her the heart to swallow and she became pregnant -- but we already told this story.
When they were about to devour his heart, a goddess finally appeared, an ally of Zeus.
It was either Athene, or Rhea (Zeus' mother), or Persephone, the killed boy's mother.
She drove away the Titans and brought the heart to Zeus. Zagreus was saved.
Zeus got involved with Semele, gave her the heart to swallow and she became pregnant -- but we already told this story.
The Titans lured Zagreus with toys
** Kerkoporta
When the Ottoman Turks sacked Constantinopolis (Istanbul) and conquered the last remnants of the once-mighty Byzantine empire, the lament was heard across civilized Europe.
A legend was soon formed -- it certainly contains elements of truth, yet it serves more to underline the role of treachery and carelessness in the abolition and breakdown of empires, armies and lives.
Kerkoporta was a little side door along the walls that protected the Graeco-Roman capital. Tradition goes that, being left open by accident or by an inside traitor, the door provided passage to the besiegers and led to seizing of the Polis (Constantinopolis).
Greek history and tradition conserves several incidents and legends illustrating treachery. Ephialtes leading the Persian army to the backs of the 300 at Thermopylae is another notorious "Kerkoporta" incident. History repeats itself -- again, and again, and again...
When the Ottoman Turks sacked Constantinopolis (Istanbul) and conquered the last remnants of the once-mighty Byzantine empire, the lament was heard across civilized Europe.
A legend was soon formed -- it certainly contains elements of truth, yet it serves more to underline the role of treachery and carelessness in the abolition and breakdown of empires, armies and lives.
Kerkoporta was a little side door along the walls that protected the Graeco-Roman capital. Tradition goes that, being left open by accident or by an inside traitor, the door provided passage to the besiegers and led to seizing of the Polis (Constantinopolis).
Greek history and tradition conserves several incidents and legends illustrating treachery. Ephialtes leading the Persian army to the backs of the 300 at Thermopylae is another notorious "Kerkoporta" incident. History repeats itself -- again, and again, and again...
Greeks cry for death and work for rebirth
Don't worry, no financial and political talk.
These, we discuss elsewhere.
Now, we remember: The Greek debt
What Greeks owe to the world
What they owe to themselves
What the world gained thanks to Greece: The Greek debt
* * * We Are Living History * * *
These, we discuss elsewhere.
Now, we remember: The Greek debt
What Greeks owe to the world
What they owe to themselves
What the world gained thanks to Greece: The Greek debt
* * * We Are Living History * * *
Enemies Broke In The Polis
Entering by Kerkoporta and luring child-god Dionysus with toys
The singer, Nikos Xylouris, was born in Crete, Greece.
People loved him and he loved people. They called him "the nightingale of Crete."
We still miss him.
I will explain the lyrics someday soon. Those who speak Greek will understand, I hope.
People loved him and he loved people. They called him "the nightingale of Crete."
We still miss him.
I will explain the lyrics someday soon. Those who speak Greek will understand, I hope.
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A Thought for Zagreus?
Would you care to save a god's heart? Would you fight the Titans?
Anyone can comment.
Comments are moderated and html-stripped.
Thank you.
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Thrinsdream
Mar 24, 2012 @ 6:56 pm | delete
- Superb! Thank you for teaching me about something I know little about! With thanks and appreciation. Cathi x
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Ysis
Feb 15, 2012 @ 3:44 am | delete
- I think I would play the game. I would be transformed into an animal, become allied with a higher God, do some mischief or something like that. The god's heart should definitily be saved.
Thank you for the links on the "Greek debt" and congratulations for your text about us being living history. Thinking and acting big, globally, or whatever you may call it is the only way to put things into the right perspective and find one's own place in the world. Thanks for giving me food for thought. I had already pondered on this ideas, but it takes some work to really get into them.
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Helenee
Feb 15, 2012 @ 11:40 am | delete
- Only, it's not always a game.
It may consume, hurt, or kill us -- for we, as defenders of the child's heart, are not gods and goddesses, but mere mortals. ;-)
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by Helenee
Hello, there!
Helenee (or Eleni) is the Greek enunciation for Helen.
Greece is magical, but so is the whole wide world, right?
I'm a freelance translator...
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