Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Dionysus
References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Painting by Caravaggio showing a young Bacchus draped in white cloth, wearing a crown of grape leaves, holding a glass of red wine, with fruit and wine on the table. Praxiteles: Hermes Carrying the Infant Dionysus Greek kylix depicting Dionysus in a sailboat Roman sarcophagus depicting the Triumph of Dionysus and the Seasons Dionysus and the Maenads Ciro Ferri: Triumph of Bacchus Dionysus Leucothea giving Dionysus a drink from the Horn of Plenty, antique bas-relief; in the Lateran Museum, Rome Dionysus Praxiteles: Hermes Carrying the Infant Dionysus
At a Glance
Dionysus, Classical bas-relief sculpture; in the National Archaeological Museum, Naples.
Dionysus summary
Quizzes
Parthenon, Acropolis, Athens, Greece.
From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology
mythology. Greek. Hermes. (Roman Mercury)
A Study of Greek and Roman Mythology
Statue of Aphrodite, ancient Greek goddess of beauty. Mythology
Oh My Heavens: A Quiz
Aphrodite. Greek mythology. Sculpture. Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love and beauty.
Ancient Gods and Monsters Quiz 
mythology. Greek. Hermes. (Roman Mercury)
Ancient Greek Gods and Demigods Quiz 
Related Questions
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Painting by Caravaggio showing a young Bacchus draped in white cloth, wearing a crown of grape leaves, holding a glass of red wine, with fruit and wine on the table.
Caravaggio: Bacchus Bacchus, oil on canvas by Caravaggio, 1596–97; in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy.

Dionysus

Greek mythology
Also known as: Bacchus, Bromios, Liber Pater, Taurokeros, Tauroprosopos(Show More)
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

Dionysus, in Greco-Roman religion, a nature god of fruitfulness and vegetation, especially known as a god of wine and ecstasy. The occurrence of his name on a Linear B tablet (13th century bce) shows that he was already worshipped in the Mycenaean period, although it is not known where his cult originated. In several legends of his cult, he is depicted as having foreign, usually eastern, origins. Dionysus was often counted among the 12 Olympian...

Discover the world with Britannica

Subscribe to Continue Reading

Free Trial | No Ads | Exclusive Content
Explore Subscriptions
DNA
Right
Mobile