Why Study Dionysus and the Bacchae with Judith Mossman

[@ronboar]

Wow, I love ❤️ I carry the name of Dionysus, Dionisio who came in from Asia 🎑 im from the Philippines 🇵🇭... 😆 very proud!!

[@anzaeria]

I wish I could track down the particular translation of The Bacchae which I studied in the mid 90s. Though I can't remember the name of that 'version.' I recently obtained another copy of the play but it is a different translation. The description of the downfall and fate of Pentheus was more memorable in the copy that I read in the 90s.

[@MonkeyWhoWouldBeKing]

It was surprising to hear the Professor refer to when Dionysus came in from Asia. My understanding is that Dionysus' name was found in Linear-B inscriptions implying that he was a Mycenaean deity like Poseidon, rather than an import like Aphrodite?

[@Yoshemo1]

Dionysus was brought in along with the worship of wine, which was started in Asia (Where Iran or Turkey are now I believe). This happened way back in the Mycenaean times. I may be remembering it wrong, but Dionysus was a god associated with the underworld and rebirth and became the god of wine later when he invented it, which would make sense with that in mind.

[@TinyEpics]

It’s in the ancient text from Euripides. At the opening of The Bacchae he has come in from Asia. She is referring specifically to this tragedy, not to the archaeological record.

[@lordcawdorofmordor2549]

She means that Dionysus returned from his travels in Asia

[@gnomikon7836]

Cadmus is the father of Dionysus' mother, Semele. Now Cadmus' name is clearly of middle-eastern origin, kedem, meaning 'east or ancient', like the Hebrew kadmon, ancient one. Since Cadmus was from Tyre, and then moved to Greece, and his daughter foresaw the coming the Dionysus to Greece, this probably means that the cult of Dionysus, or at least its ideas or theology, originally came from Tyre with Phoenician settlers, but took time to take root in greek culture - or that a whole new myth (appearance, the exoteric aspect) was formed for a god in Greece, which nevertheless already existed (Dionysus shared the dying-resurrecting aspect with the already existent Tammuz from Babylonia, Ieoud, Melqart and Adonis).

[@bluebestfriend]

@@lordcawdorofmordor2549 No Dionysos came from Asia, he would've been Shiva really

[@TheLocoUnion]

The Bacchae is playing at the BAM in Brooklyn NY Oct 3-7th 2018 limited engagement ... Dionysus is played by a woman here... I can’t wait to see it!

[@conorbowen3360]

Poor Agave. What could be worse than being driven insane, than by driven insane and then driven sane again. I think Euripides was very keen on the idea that women suffered first and foremost from war and violence in Ancient Greece

[@marishkagrayson]

actually Christ has a lot to do with Dionysus-twice born, human mother, resurrection, son of a heavenly father, their bodies and blood were drank and eaten in ritualistic ceremonies...etc. But otherwise an excellent but brief video

[@SavageHenry777]

indeed, when she got to that point and said what she did with that laugh I almost wondered if she was being sarcastic or just careful for some reason. the NT has Jesus saying to the vine-growers in the galillee region, "I am the true grapevine," so that writer apparently thought that even Jesus himself would be aware aware of his similarity.

[@MonkeyWhoWouldBeKing]

I'm interested, where are there references to Dionysus' body being symbolically eaten? I know his Cult had a dismemberment ritual of bulls and such to symbolise his initial death. Did they eat the meat after? (And if so, do we have reason to believe that was part of hte ceremony rather than just wast-not?)

[@lordcawdorofmordor2549]

@@MonkeyWhoWouldBeKing I think there was a whole "eating the meat raw" thing after ripping the bull apart, omophagia

[@Melki]

Thank you

[@firstlast2762]

Greek theogony is absolutely a precursor to the Jewish pantheon described in the Tanakh and Septuagint and later Christian works. Christianity is literally an evolution of Dionysian worship.

[@gzucc]

He is my scorn and my savior.

[@mattward5010]

The word "Ἐλωΐ" (Eloi) is the Greek transliteration of "Evoi" in this context and is used as an exclamation of joy and celebration during the worship of Dionysus. Leader of the Bacchants: "--------> Ἐλωΐ! Ἐλωΐ

[@lizardpeoplepoetry]

tfw the chorus diminishes in importance :'(

[@ceasargra10]

*sheds a tear*

[@SavageHenry777]

6:10 I disagree

[@turinhorse]

6:07 oh they dont? how can you be so learned and not realize how linked Dionysus and "Jesus Christ" are? the entire eucharist is just torn from Dionysus

[@thomaspercyk]

doug

[@AM-cv9fi]

Could it be that the family was split up in this primitive landscape because they have become too civilized? Dionysus is a wild god and his own family has forgotten how to be wild.