DIONYSUS AND GREEK DRAMA

Although the origin of Greek drama cannot be known with any certainty, we do know that tragedy and comedy had deep roots in the religious and communal life of the Greek polis and were closely connected with the worship of the god Dionysus (sometimes spelled Dionysos, called Bacchus by the Romans). A great deal of basic information about this god and his interactions with other deities and humans can be found in Carlos Parada's Genealogical Guide to Greek Mythology, while Kristi Thompson muses about the nature and meaning of the god.

An excellent article by Patricia Easterling (“A Show for Dionysus.”The Cambridge Companion to Greek Tragedy. Ed. P. E. Easterling. Cambridge University Press, 1997. 36-53) maintains that Dionysus was closely associated with Greek tragedy because of the following major characteristics of the god:

• As the god specifically associated with wine and wine miracles, Dionysus fostered intoxication, which can lead both to positive release and to self-destructive passions and actions.
• More generally, Dionysus was a god of wild nature, of the forces “outside” of the civilized city:
  • unchecked, luxuriant plant growth, as can be seen in this cup, painted by Exekias
  • fierce, untamed animals such as large cats (panthers, leopards, lions) bulls, and snakes; note the snakes and leopard that characterize the maenad on this cup by the Brygos painter, or in this vase painting of Dionysus himself holding a dismembered animal
  • sexuality unbounded by humane and civilized limits, particularly symbolized by the half-animal satyrs who were the god's companions
• As a god of ecstatic possession, Dionysus left his worshippers without individual, conscious identity; his female followers were called maenads, “raving women,” and are shown in frenzied, trance-like states.
• Dancing was a major part of the worship of Dionysus, especially as a celebration of freedom from self-consciousness and constraint, as can be seen on this lovely Roman cameo of a dancing satyr.
• Dionysus was pre-eminently a god of “otherness”; he was frequently represented on vases by a mask, as in the numerous “eye vases” like the one shown above, where the mask of Dionysus is placed between two large eyes.
• Dionysus also played a role as god of mystic initiation in cults such as the Eleusinian mysteries of Demeter and Persephone.

The word tragedy is connected with the Greek word tragoi, meaning goats, and Dionysus and his followers are sometimes pictured with a goat. One of the musical instruments associated with Dionysus, the aulos or double pipe, was used to accompany tragic performances.