Worship of Dionysus in Alexander movie?

[LithiumViolets]

sorry guys for posting so many threads and stuff....it just seems like every moment I want to learn something else or there's another topic I'm interested in. :)

Anyway, after seeing Alexander (which I loved btw- both the DIrector's Cut and the Theatrical Release, though I do lament the cut of the knife scene from the Director's version....that was great but both versions are awesome in their own context) I became really interested in Dionysus. Seeing Angelina's character and how she often spoke of Dionysus I was wondering who here worships Dionysus and how he is worshipped. In the movie she says "only women truly know Dionysus" and in my research in enclyclopedias and whatnot, I do see that there were many women cults for him. I've heard he is the god of ecstasy, drunkedness, sexuality, euphoria, etc. and worship of him was often feared and forbidden. This is about all I know. Any more knowledge would be appreciated.

[Seshata]

A very good book is

'Bacchus A Biography' by Andrew Dalby

Don't let the title dissuade you, there are lots of references to Dionysus and the myths associated with him.

I wouldn't go just by what is said in a film, from a few Hellenios type people, (I haven't seen the film myself) there were quotes that it wasn't quite 'there'... He was brought up by nymphs (I think), so he was surrounded by women to start off with. The fear can also be associated with one of the stories where some women 'turned' on their menfolk (I haven't got the text on hand, I'm sure that someone will correct me on this and the full story)...

Check out also for the Homeric Hymns.

BB

Seshata

[Theres]

when we strip away the Hollywood, we get...

http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Dionysos.html

[Agaliha]

All I really know besides the basics is that he replaced Hestia in Olympus. Some links to various Dionysus sites:

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/d/dionysus.html
http://www.levity.com/mavericks/dionysus.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysus
http://www.hermetic.com/sabazius/dionysus.htm
http://www.loggia.com/myth/dionysos.html
http://www.add.gr/wine/dionysus/ukdion.htm
http://www.archaeonia.com/religion/cults/dionysian.htm <--about his cult, might be what you are looking for
http://www.thanasis.com/dionys.htm
http://www.dionysian.net/god_dionysus_main.htm
http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Dionysos.html <--good resource in general [theoi.com]...has info about worship I believe
http://www.greekmythology.com/Other_Gods/Dionysus/dionysus.html
http://dionysia.org/greek/dionysos/thompson/dionysos.html

Those might be helpful. And about the movie-- I've never seen it, yet I do know movies tend to not be so accurate.

[JadeNSC]

You know, this thread reminded me I was going to do a little research on Dionysius! :lol: Amazing how these things happen. :)

Thanks for the help even though it was intended for someone else! :lol:

[Hamelyn]

I can leave for a month, and when I come back, there's new information. And I even worship Dionysus. Dionysis. Dionysos. Whatever. :)

Thanks for the links all. I've always related to Dionysus more than any other god out there, though I feel pretty close to Persephone. Madness and death, whee... I like to think I'm a nice guy for it all, though. Hehe.

Obviously I can't speak first-hand about the way things were done thousands of years ago, since I wasn't there (that I know of- past life memories not counted here, in the interest of scholarly accuracy), but I do worship Dionysus in this life. Did you have just academic questions about his myth, or were you looking to ask any practitioners any questions? If the latter, I'm open whenever. Tata.