Dionysus, or Bacchus, as he was known to the Romans, occupied an important place in the Greek and Roman pantheon. Despite sometimes being referred to as the "thirteenth Olympian" due to the fact that according to certain mythological traditions, his place in the Olympian pantheon was solidified only when the goddess Hestia abdicated her spot, evidence of the Greek worship of Dionysus dating back to the thirteenth century BCE has been found, making him one of the earliest gods in Greece. Though he was the god of wine, he was closely linked to fertility and abundance; in myth, the worshippers of Dionysus could coax milk and honey from stones and earth. He was known as a liberator, as the moderate consumption of wine was thought to ease pain and bodily ailments, while more excessive consumption could free people from their cares and inspire divine ecstasy. Due to his role as a god of revelry and theater, many may think that Dionysus was good natured and cheerful, but as with other gods and goddesses, it was dangerous to cross him, and those who refused to honor him properly paid a heavy price for their disrespect. 

In this course, we will put the spotlight on Dionysus, and we'll discuss his birth and origins, his powers, and some of the many stories about him (please note that one of the most famous stories about Dionysus, the story of Pentheus, is discussed in its own class, Mythology Symposium:  The Story of Pentheus (and Dionysus!), and will not be repeated here; if you are interested in this class, but do not see a section listed, please feel free to submit a scheduling request). We'll also discuss his role as a patron of the theater, as well as his worship by the ancient Greeks and Romans. 

This course is the thirteenth in a series designed to spotlight each of the major Olympian gods (the first and second being about Zeus and Hera, respectively, the third being about Athena, the fourth being about Aphrodite, the fifth being about Artemis, the sixth being about Apollo, the seventh being about Hermes, the eighth being about Poseidon, the ninth being about Demeter, the tenth being about Ares, the eleventh being about Hephaestus, and the twelfth being about Hestia). These classes can be taken in any order, and learners should feel free to take as many or as few as they like. Such courses are meant to go beyond the basics to give learners a deeper understanding of each of the major gods in the ancient Greek (and Roman!) pantheon. This course follows the format of my traditional symposium classes, and there is no prerequisite for this course.

As with my other symposium-style courses, this course is designed to feature some of the hallmarks of a true classical symposium. I may read excerpts from ancient Greek or Latin poetry, in keeping with the tradition of poetry recitation (please note:  any such readings are so that students can hear the language; this is not a language course, so language learning is not part of the class). Together as a class, we'll also read some short passages in English. From there, via around-the-campfire style storytelling, I will weave the larger stories around our topic of the day:  Dionysus. This course will make use of slides to introduce new material and to provide visual representations of art and literature. Ongoing dialogue and conversation, questions directed to students from the teacher (and from students to the teacher!), and reading aloud are all part of this course (please note that students are free to listen OR to join in the reading; it is their choice, and there is no pressure to participate in this way); discussion and questions are not just welcomed, but encouraged! 

As food and drink were an important part of a symposium, we'll seek to recreate that with traditional symposium snacks (please see the supply list for more details!), and while the traditional wine isn't age appropriate, a more appropriate drink like water or juice is a suitable replacement. (Please note that students should not feel obligated to eat or drink if they do not wish to; the food is meant to enhance the experience, but it's far from necessary.)

A symposium was an occasion for people to gather together for entertainment and learning. This course is one of many symposium-style courses, with each course designed to feature a different topic. This course has no prerequisites, and it is ideal for learners who love mythology, who have a curiosity about the classical world, or who enjoy good stories. Let's sit down to a symposium together!