Dionysos

Grc: Διονυσος (Dionysos), Lat: Liber/Bacchus, En: Dionysus

Be favourable, insewn inspirer of frenzied women! We singers sing of you as we begin and as we end a strain, and none forgetting you may call holy song to mind.

— Homeric Hymn 1 to Dionysos

Local Variants

Διονυσος Αἰγοβόλος (Dionysos Aigobolos): "The Goat Slayer"

At Potniai, Kingdom of Thebai, in Boiotia. Goats were sacrificed to Dionysos in place of former human sacrifice, and also to reduce the population of goats capable of destroying the grapevines. [see Pausanias, 9.8.1]

Dionysos Acratophorus: "Giver of Unmixed Wine"

At Phigaleia in Arcadia. [see Pausanias, 8.39.6.]

Dionysos Acroreites

At Sicyon.

Dionysos Aesymnetes: "Lord Dionysos"

At Aroë and Patrae in Achaea.

Dionysos Agrios: "Wild Dionysos"

In Macedonia.

Dionysos Bassareus: "Dionysos of the Fox-Skin"

In Thrace, a fox-skin was worn by cultists of Dionysos in their mysteries.

Dionysos Briseus: "He Who Prevails"

In Smyrna.

Dionysos Bromios: "Roaring Dionysos"

As of the roaring wind, breath, or spirit, primarily relating to the central death/resurrection element of the diamon's origin myth, but also his transformations into lion and bull, to the boisterousness of those who drink alcohol, and to the roar of thunder associated with Dionysos's father, Zeus.

Διονυσος χοιροψάλας (Dionysos Choiropsalas): "The Pig-Plucker"

The Greek, χοῖρος, meant pig, but was also a slang term for the female genitalia. A reference to Dionysos's role as a fertility deity.

Dionysos Dendrites: "Dionysos of the Trees"

As a fertility god.

Dionysos Endendros: "Dionysos in the Tree"

As a fertility god.

Dionysos Dithyrambos: "Dionysos the Premature"

Used at his festivals, referring to his premature birth.

Dionysos Eleutherios: "Dionysos the Liberator"

An epithet Dionysos shared with Eros.

Dionysos Enorches: "Dionysos of the Testicles,"

With reference to his fertility, or in reference to Zeus' sewing the baby Dionysus "into his thigh" being understood to mean his testicles. Used in Samos and Lesbos.

Dionysos Erikryptos: "Dionysos the Completely Hidden"

In Macedonia.

Διονυσος Εὔιος (Dionysos Eyios): "Dionysos with the Howls of Joy"

Used in Euripides' play, The Bacchae, set in Thebai. A reference to the shout of delight uttered by Zeus upon witnessing a victory of Dionysos during the War of Gods and Giants, or alternately related to orgies held by the daimon's followers.

Dionysos Iacchus

In Eleusis, Attike, home of the Eleusinian Mysteries, Dionysos is known as a son of Zeus and Demeter. The name "Iacchus" may come from the Ιακχος (Iakchos), a hymn sung in his honor.

Dionysos Liknites: "Dionysos of the Winnowing Fan"

As a fertility god connected with mystery religions. A winnowing fan was used to separate the chaff from the grain and also resembled a cradle.

Διονυσος Λυαῖος (Dionysos Lyaios): "Dionysos the Deliverer/Loosener"

One who releases from care and anxiety.

Dionysos Melanaigis: "Dionysos of the Black Goatskin"

At the Apaturia festival.

Διονυσος Μόρυχος (Dionysos Morychus): "Dionysos the Smeared"

In Sicily, where the icon of Dionysos was smeared with wine lees at the vintage.

Dionysos Oeneus: "Dionysos of the Wine Press"

Dionysos Pseudanor: "The False Man"

Referring to his feminine qualities, in Macedonia.

Divine Domains

Wine, Parties, Theater, and Madness

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Symbols

Thyrsus (pine-cone staff)

Animals

Panther, bull, serpent

Plants

Grapevine, ivy, bindweed

Divine Classification

Olympian