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in Greek mythology, god of wine and vegetation, who showed
mortals how to cultivate grapevines and make wine. He was good and
gentle to those who honored him, but he brought madness and destruction
upon those who spurned him or the orgiastic rituals of his cult.
According to tradition, Dionysus died each winter and was reborn
in the spring. To his followers, this cyclical revival, accompanied
by the seasonal renewal of the fruits of the earth, embodied the
promise of the resurrection of the dead. The yearly rites in honor
of the resurrection of Dionysus gradually evolved into the structured
form of the Greek drama, and important festivals were held in honor
of the god, during which great dramatic competitions were conducted.
The most important festival, the Greater Dionysia, was held in Athens
for five days each spring. It was for this celebration that the
Greek dramatists Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides wrote their
great tragedies. After the 5th century bc, Dionysus was
known to the Greeks as Bacchus. For myths relating to Dionysus, see
An article from Funk & Wagnalls® New Encyclopedia. © 2006 World Almanac Education Group. A WRC Media Company. All rights reserved. Except as otherwise permitted by
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