At the Origins of Dionysus and Wine: Myths, Miracles, and Festivals

Abstract

For the Greeks, the connection between Dionysus and wine is almost unanimous. The god diffuses wine-related know-how and its cultivation throughout the inhabited world. Certain myths place the birth and infancy of Dionysus in regions where wine plays a prominent role, either for its excellence, because wine-related wonders take place there, or because the existence of wine-springs is attested. The cause-and-effect relationship between the birth of Dionysus and the miraculous appearance of wine is used by some cities to support their claim to be his birthplace. In some cases, myths concerning the origins of Dionysus are combined with a ritual component that celebrates the epiphany of the god through festivals in which the focal point is wine. This paper aims to contribute to our understanding of mythology and aetiology by adopting a novel approach to the case study of Dionysus’ birth, examining the extent to which the importance of wine in these areas determines whether they are linked to the origins of the god.