Dionysus


 * Other known names: Bacchus, Bromius and Liber (Roman)

__Story and Origin:__** Original Version: Dionysus is the son of Zeus and the mortal woman Semele. Myth has it that Zeus killed Semele with a thunder bolt while Dionysus was in her womb. Dionysus was placed in Zeus's thigh until he was developed enough to be born from Zeus, who is by the way, a guy. Zeus then ordered Hermes to bring Dionysus to the woods to be raised by nymphs.

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Another Version that is even more vivid:Zeus impregnates Persephone, and after the baby is born the Titans tear it apart (perhaps at the instigation of Hera) and either eat it or serve it to the gods. Athena rescues the heart and brings to to Zeus. Zeus blasts the Titans with his thunderbolt in punishment, and humankind comes from the ashes. Zeus swallows the heart and Dionysus is reborn anew.=====

__**Personality and Traits:**__ Dionysus is the God of Nature and Wine. He was often depicted wearing a wreath made of grape leaves to symbolize his passion for wine.His blood also represented the sap

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of trees. Dionysus also had two sides to him, a calm side and a wild side. Dionysus' characteristics and personality set him aside from the rest of his family. As mentioned above, Dionysus had a rough time during his birth and childhood. Though Dionysus had a bad start to his life, he was still valued by the Greeks. The main reason the Greeks adore him was because he introduced them to wine; he also emphasized theatre, a major form of entertainment. The Greeks absolutely adored wine. Dionysus also taught Greeks how to tend the grape vines. Because of this, he was highly respected and his legacy still lives on today. The Greeks celebrate him by putting on a large festival in the spring. Everyone dances, laughs and has a good time all to commemorate this tremendously distinctive and unique god, Dionysus, and how he contributed to the Ancient Greeks.=====

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Dionysus played two very different roles in Greek mythology. As the god of fertility, he was closely linked with crops, the harvest, and the changing of the seasons. As the god of wine and ecstasy, he was associated with drunkenness, madness, and unrestrained sexuality. His nature included a productive, life-giving side and a bestial, destructive side.======

__**Trivia:**__ Aside from being the God of Wine and Nature, Dionysus was the inspiration for ecstasy and madness. Dionysus may have been bisexual, being portrayed as a man, beast or even an effeminate female.

Modern Word **dionysian:** Dionysus (god of wine and a kind of chaos), undisciplined, unrestrained **__Sources:__** http://www.sfday.org/Academics/Student_Projects/2007-2008/Greek/dionysussam.html http://www.greek-islands.us/greek-gods/dionysus/dionysus.jpg http://www.utexas.edu/courses/nestor/outline_3-1.html www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0815585.html http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_words_came_from_Greek_mythology&alreadyAsked=1&rtitle=Words_that_came_from_greek_gods