DionysusDionysos

The god of wine; also called Bakkhus (Bacchus); the son of Zeus and Semele.

Dionysus was born prematurely and sewn into the thigh of Zeus and then “born” on the mountain of Nysa which is (according to the Homeric Hymn) in Phoenicia, near the streams of Aegyptus.

Dionysus gave grapes to mortals and is always in the company of nymphs; his gift of wine to mortals was immediately abused and resulted in the death of Ikarius (Icarius) and his daughter, Erigone; when Dionysus was traveling in Attika (Attica), he was entertained by the kindly Ikarius; as a reward, Dionysus gave Ikarius the gift of wine which was unknown to mortal men; when Ikarius’ neighbors drank the wine they became drunk and murdered Ikarius; Erigone, with the help of her dog, Maera, found her father’s body and in utter sadness, committed suicide by hanging herself from a tree.