LCT16: Dionysos I

Question 1

Dionysos was a specialized what?

Answer 1

fertility god in grapevine and ivy

Question 2

God of what?

Answer 2

wine and intoxication

Question 3

Dionysos was… and came from?

Answer 3

the last of the Olympian gods… and came from the east to assert his power and gain worshippers

Question 4

Dionysos inspires… God of the…

Answer 4

ecstasy = standing outside yourself - through wine, music, dance, sex, possessions … God of the altered state

Question 5

What originated in Athens during the festivals in honor of Dionysos?

Answer 5

theatrical performances - actors assume other identities

Question 6

What was Dionysos drinking cup called?

Answer 6

Kantharos

Question 7

Dionysos’ Attendents

Answer 7

• wild beasts : panthers, leopards, tigers
• Satyrs : goat-men, lewd
• Maenads : possessed women devoted to Dionysos

Question 8

Maenads

Answer 8

• frenzied women devoted to Dionysos
• hair unbound, clothes loose
• often carry a thyrsos –> staff wound with ivy topped with cones, grapes

Question 9

Who are Dionysos’ parents?

Answer 9

Zeus and Semele - daughter of the King of Thebes

Question 10

What does Zeus due to Semele? Who finds out?

Answer 10

seduces her by promising to do whatever she wants - Hera finds out

Question 11

What does Hera do?

Answer 11

disguises herself as Semele’s attendant - convinces her to ask Zeus to appear in his full power

Question 12

What does Zeus’ appearance do to Semele?

Answer 12

incinerates her

Question 13

What does Zeus do after incinerating Semele?

Answer 13

rescues the baby and sews him into his thigh until the baby is fully grown

Question 14

What does Zeus do after Dionysos is born?

Answer 14

sends him to Ino (Semele’s sister) and her husband Athamas to be raised as a girl (to keep him hidden from Hera)