Mythology
Dionysos Myths in PJO - Riordanverse Wiki
Dionysus was often called the 'twice born' because of the circumstances around his birth. His mother was a mortal woman named Semele, daughter of Cadmus, king of Thebes, and his father was Zeus. This makes him the only Olympian to have a mortal parent, and according to some traditions the only one to have been born a demigod.
As with most of Zeus' acts of infidelity, Hera was enraged when she found out that Semele was pregnant with Zeus' child. She disguised herself as an old woman (or as Semele's nurse in some stories) and made Semele begin to doubt that it was truly Zeus. While in disguise, Hera convinced Semele to ask Zeus to reveal his true form and, to make sure that he would do it, to have him swear on the River Styx, which is sacred to the Greek gods and an unbreakable oath. The next time Zeus visited her, Semele did as Hera advised, and though he tried to get around it, Zeus was bound by oath and so revealed to her his true divine form. Semele was burned to ashes, but Zeus managed to save the infant, and sewed him into his thigh. The child remained there until he emerged fully-grown a few months later, atop Mount Pramnos on the island of Ikaria. He was born a demigod, like Hercules and Perseus.
Zeus sent the infant Dionysus off with Hermes, who took Dionysus to Athamas, king of Orchomenos, and his wife, Ino, Semele's sister and Dionysus' maternal aunt. Hermes had them raise Dionysus as a girl to hide him from Hera's scorn. When Dionysus was three he was discovered by Hera who disposed of his guardians and their children by inflicting madness upon the household, him only surviving as Zeus turned him into a goat to hide him. The young boy was then taken to the rain nymphs of Mount Nysa; they raised him through childhood, and to reward them for their care, Zeus placed the nymphs into the night sky as a new constellation, the Hyades.
When Dionysus grew up, he discovered the vine, and extracted the juice only to then be struck with madness by Hera who still had a grudge on him. Afterwards, he wandered various parts of the world, making his way through Egypt, Syria, and then Phrygia, a kingdom in central Anatolia; there he was found by the Titaness Rhea, his grandmother, who cured Dionysus and taught him her religious rites. Afterwards, the god set out on a journey across the world, teaching men how to cultivate the vine and inviting them to join in on the mysteries of his new cult.
Dionysus also helped the gods during the First Gigantomachy alongside his half-brother Hercules, as a god could only defeat the giants with a demigod fighting along side them.
He was very handsome as a young man, eager for challenges. Dionysus later said he was good at nothing in his human life but cultivating wine. The people in his village mocked him, not knowing of his heritage or his future, and what he would one day become. Later, when Dionysus was invited to Mount Olympus, it was Hestia, goddess of the hearth, who graciously offered him her throne to prevent any conflict or embarrassment.
As a newly emerged god, Dionysus would travel around the world recruiting humans and other creatures to join his wine cult and party with him resulting in his group consisting of many wild and crazy Maenads and satyrs. Eventually Dionysus came in contact with the Amazons and recruited many of them. After hearing about this, the Amazon queen Otrera was enraged and attacked the god. However, Dionysus and his followers easily defeated them, slaughtered much of the Amazon army and forced them to retreat and chasing them into India. Eventually, Dionysus and his men quit the chase for unknown reasons.
Dionysus then rescued his mother from Hades, and she became a goddess on Mount Olympus, with the new name Thyone, presiding over the frenzy inspired by her son Dionysus. When Theseus abandoned Ariadne sleeping on Naxos, Dionysus found and married her. When she died, he went to the Underworld and rescued her, taking her up to Mount Olympus, where, at Dionysus' request, Zeus made her immortal.
He was disguised as a mortal on the seashore once when a group of pirates spotted him. They thought he was a prince, and tried to kidnap him and hold him for ransom or to sell into slavery. They tried to tie his hands behind his back, but no ropes would hold him to the pole. At this point Dionysus turned into a lion and let a bear loose on board. It killed those it came in contact with, and those who jumped off the ship were turned into dolphins as an act of mercy. The only one to survive was the helmsman Acoetes, who had recognized him as a god, and tried to stop his comrades from the beginning.
Ariadne
Originally, Ariadne served as the wife of Dionysus, referred to as his "feminine double" in ancient mythology. Hesiod, in his Theogony, depicts her in this role, explaining that Zeus elevated Ariadne to immortality as a gesture to please Dionysus, her husband. The passage states, "Dionysus with golden hair took the fair Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, for a flourishing wife, whom the son of Cronos has forever saved from death and old age."
The bestowment of immortality upon Ariadne is seen as a reward for Dionysus, Zeus's beloved son. Scholars Louis Séchan and Pierre Lévêque suggest that this divine gift echoes the idea that Ariadne originally represented an Aegean goddess of vegetation. In this context, her association with vegetation implies a cycle of death and resurrection, mirroring the natural life cycle of plants. The union of Ariadne and Dionysus further supports the notion that, in the early myth, both deities symbolized arborescent vegetation, suggesting that the romantic episode involving Ariadne and Theseus was a later addition to the narrative.
Lastly, an ancient cult of Aphrodite-Ariadne was observed at Amathus, Cyprus, according to the obscure Hellenistic mythographer Paeon of Amathus; his works are lost, but his narrative is among the sources that Plutarch cited in his vita of Theseus (20.3-5).
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Dionysos Myths in PJO - Riordanverse Wiki
Dionysus was often called the 'twice born' because of the circumstances around his birth. His mother was a mortal woman named Semele, daughter of Cadmus, king of Thebes, and his father was Zeus. This makes him the only Olympian to have a mortal parent, and according to some traditions the only one to have been born a demigod.
As with most of Zeus' acts of infidelity, Hera was enraged when she found out that Semele was pregnant with Zeus' child. She disguised herself as an old woman (or as Semele's nurse in some stories) and made Semele begin to doubt that it was truly Zeus. While in disguise, Hera convinced Semele to ask Zeus to reveal his true form and, to make sure that he would do it, to have him swear on the River Styx, which is sacred to the Greek gods and an unbreakable oath. The next time Zeus visited her, Semele did as Hera advised, and though he tried to get around it, Zeus was bound by oath and so revealed to her his true divine form. Semele was burned to ashes, but Zeus managed to save the infant, and sewed him into his thigh. The child remained there until he emerged fully-grown a few months later, atop Mount Pramnos on the island of Ikaria. He was born a demigod, like Hercules and Perseus.
Zeus sent the infant Dionysus off with Hermes, who took Dionysus to Athamas, king of Orchomenos, and his wife, Ino, Semele's sister and Dionysus' maternal aunt. Hermes had them raise Dionysus as a girl to hide him from Hera's scorn. When Dionysus was three he was discovered by Hera who disposed of his guardians and their children by inflicting madness upon the household, him only surviving as Zeus turned him into a goat to hide him. The young boy was then taken to the rain nymphs of Mount Nysa; they raised him through childhood, and to reward them for their care, Zeus placed the nymphs into the night sky as a new constellation, the Hyades.
When Dionysus grew up, he discovered the vine, and extracted the juice only to then be struck with madness by Hera who still had a grudge on him. Afterwards, he wandered various parts of the world, making his way through Egypt, Syria, and then Phrygia, a kingdom in central Anatolia; there he was found by the Titaness Rhea, his grandmother, who cured Dionysus and taught him her religious rites. Afterwards, the god set out on a journey across the world, teaching men how to cultivate the vine and inviting them to join in on the mysteries of his new cult.
Dionysus also helped the gods during the First Gigantomachy alongside his half-brother Hercules, as a god could only defeat the giants with a demigod fighting along side them.
He was very handsome as a young man, eager for challenges. Dionysus later said he was good at nothing in his human life but cultivating wine. The people in his village mocked him, not knowing of his heritage or his future, and what he would one day become. Later, when Dionysus was invited to Mount Olympus, it was Hestia, goddess of the hearth, who graciously offered him her throne to prevent any conflict or embarrassment.
As a newly emerged god, Dionysus would travel around the world recruiting humans and other creatures to join his wine cult and party with him resulting in his group consisting of many wild and crazy Maenads and satyrs. Eventually Dionysus came in contact with the Amazons and recruited many of them. After hearing about this, the Amazon queen Otrera was enraged and attacked the god. However, Dionysus and his followers easily defeated them, slaughtered much of the Amazon army and forced them to retreat and chasing them into India. Eventually, Dionysus and his men quit the chase for unknown reasons.
Dionysus then rescued his mother from Hades, and she became a goddess on Mount Olympus, with the new name Thyone, presiding over the frenzy inspired by her son Dionysus. When Theseus abandoned Ariadne sleeping on Naxos, Dionysus found and married her. When she died, he went to the Underworld and rescued her, taking her up to Mount Olympus, where, at Dionysus' request, Zeus made her immortal.
He was disguised as a mortal on the seashore once when a group of pirates spotted him. They thought he was a prince, and tried to kidnap him and hold him for ransom or to sell into slavery. They tried to tie his hands behind his back, but no ropes would hold him to the pole. At this point Dionysus turned into a lion and let a bear loose on board. It killed those it came in contact with, and those who jumped off the ship were turned into dolphins as an act of mercy. The only one to survive was the helmsman Acoetes, who had recognized him as a god, and tried to stop his comrades from the beginning.
Ariadne
Originally, Ariadne served as the wife of Dionysus, referred to as his "feminine double" in ancient mythology. Hesiod, in his Theogony, depicts her in this role, explaining that Zeus elevated Ariadne to immortality as a gesture to please Dionysus, her husband. The passage states, "Dionysus with golden hair took the fair Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, for a flourishing wife, whom the son of Cronos has forever saved from death and old age."
The bestowment of immortality upon Ariadne is seen as a reward for Dionysus, Zeus's beloved son. Scholars Louis Séchan and Pierre Lévêque suggest that this divine gift echoes the idea that Ariadne originally represented an Aegean goddess of vegetation. In this context, her association with vegetation implies a cycle of death and resurrection, mirroring the natural life cycle of plants. The union of Ariadne and Dionysus further supports the notion that, in the early myth, both deities symbolized arborescent vegetation, suggesting that the romantic episode involving Ariadne and Theseus was a later addition to the narrative.
Lastly, an ancient cult of Aphrodite-Ariadne was observed at Amathus, Cyprus, according to the obscure Hellenistic mythographer Paeon of Amathus; his works are lost, but his narrative is among the sources that Plutarch cited in his vita of Theseus (20.3-5).
Satyrs
In Greek mythology, Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, and revelry, is closely associated with satyrs. Satyrs are mythical creatures that are part human and part goat, featuring the upper body of a man and the lower body of a goat, including goat horns and sometimes a goat's tail. These beings are known for their mischievous and lustful nature, often portrayed as followers and companions of Dionysus.
The connection between Dionysus and satyrs is rooted in the god's cult and the stories surrounding his adventures. Satyrs are believed to be the loyal and rowdy followers of Dionysus, accompanying him during his journeys and revelries. They share a love for wine, music, and dance, embodying the untamed and wild aspects of nature.
Dionysus is often depicted in the company of satyrs and maenads (female followers), engaging in ecstatic celebrations and spreading the worship of the god through festivals and rituals. Satyrs play instruments like the panpipes and participate in lively dances during these festivities.
One famous tale involving Dionysus and satyrs is the story of his journey through the East, where he encountered the wine culture and its cultivation. During this expedition, satyrs accompanied Dionysus, contributing to the lively and uninhibited atmosphere that characterizes the god's worship.
Overall, satyrs are symbolic of the primal, instinctive, and unrestrained aspects of human nature associated with Dionysus. They embody the wild and chaotic forces that the god represents, contributing to the vibrant and joyous nature of his cult and celebrations.
Maenads
The maenads of Greek mythology are the devoted companions of Dionysus. These creatures are women possessed with the gift of personifying the orgiastic spirits of nature. They are often accompanied by satyrs, forming a Dionysian procession. Their heads are adorned with ivy crowns, possess a majestic scepter (thyrse) and are often dressed in animal skins or leopard skin (Pardalide).
Most of these fantastic beings are the nurses of the gods entrusted to them by Hermes.
The maenads wear tattoos or marks on their faces as camouflage. Unaware of the seriousness of their actions, they sing of the joy of hunting goats. But sometimes they can go mad; their pity disappears and they cruelly dismember poor innocent travelers, feasting on their raw flesh (like Orpheus).
Delirium is a great characteristic of them; sometimes they eat poisonous ivy berries, but psychodysleptic in small doses, as well as hallucinogenic mushrooms such as fly agaric and many others.
Mythology - Dionysos and Hermes - and more of Hera's hatred
As per Nonnus' narrative, Zeus entrusted the infant Dionysus to the guardianship of Hermes. Subsequently, Hermes handed Dionysus over to the Lamides, the daughters of Lamos and river nymphs. Unfortunately, Hera induced madness in the Lamides, prompting them to attack Dionysus. Hermes intervened, rescuing the infant from harm. Following this, Hermes took Dionysus to Ino, instructing her attendant Mystis to foster him and impart the mysteries to him.
In the account by Apollodorus, Hermes advised Ino to raise Dionysus in disguise as a girl, aiming to shield him from Hera's anger. Despite these efforts, Hera discovered Dionysus' true identity and threatened to unleash a flood upon the household. Once again, Hermes intervened, taking Dionysus to the mountains of Lydia in the guise of Phanes, the most ancient of gods. Hera, acknowledging Hermes' divine form, allowed him to pass. Hermes then entrusted the infant Dionysus to the care of the goddess Rhea, who nurtured him through his formative years.
Secondary Myth 1 : Dionysos & Midas
Dionysus made a disconcerting discovery when he realized that Silenus, his former schoolmaster and foster father, had gone missing. Silenus, in a drunken stupor, had wandered off and was discovered by peasants who took him to their king, Midas. Alternatively, Silenus had passed out in Midas' rose garden. King Midas, recognizing the old man, warmly welcomed him, hosting a lavish feast for ten days and nights during which Silenus regaled everyone with stories and songs.
On the eleventh day, Midas graciously returned Silenus to Dionysus. In gratitude, Dionysus offered Midas the opportunity to choose any reward he desired. Midas, desiring a unique power, asked that whatever he touched would turn to gold. Though Dionysus consented, he regretted the choice Midas had made. Midas, initially delighted with his newfound ability, tested it by turning an oak twig and a stone into gold. However, his joy turned to despair when he discovered that even his food, drink, and loved ones, including his daughter, transformed into gold upon contact.
Panicked and desperate to undo the Midas Touch, the king pleaded with Dionysus for help to avoid starvation. The compassionate god agreed and instructed Midas to wash in the river Pactolus. As Midas followed the god's advice, the power transferred into the river, turning its sands into gold. This myth served as an explanation for the golden sands of the Pactolus.