My grandpa grows vines in his little garden so I have a chance to see them grow and mature. And since September starts the season of maturing vines, I thought it would be good to pay tribute to their patron: god Dionysus/ Bacchus.

Jupiter’s Affair and ‘Pregnancy’

Bacchus was Jupiter’s misbegotten son from his affair with a mortal woman Semele. Jupiter’s wife quickly learnt of her husband’s infidelity and decided to take revenge on the poor woman. As mortals couldn’t see gods in their true form, she made Semele see Jupiter’s divinity. Poor Semele died instantly burning up! Jupiter, however, saved his son, who was still in Semele’s womb, by sewing him under the skin of his thigh.

Bacchus’s Love

Bacchus is often portrayed in company of Ariadne, a mythically beautiful woman with whom the young god fell in love at first sight. The story of their love is described by Ovid and Catullus, who tell that Ariadne, who was a Cretan princess, was abandoned on the Greek island of Naxos by the hero Theseus (he was very very ungrateful, since Ariadne helped him get through the labyrinth of Minotaur). Fortunately Bacchus saw her and lept from his chariot to save her.

A Great Farmer

Not only is Bacchus the patron of wine-making but also of agriculture in general, as he was the one to teach people how to grow vines. According to mythology, he spent his childhood with Silenus, a great wine amateur. Having completed his training, Bacchus decided to travel the world and teach until he reached Olympus.

Silenus and Midas

There is a story in which one day Silenus goes missing and Bacchus suspects that his teacher strayed somewhere in his drunken trance. He went searching for him but it was the king Midas, who had found him and brought back to the young god. Out of gratitude, Bacchus offered Midas a gift of any power he wanted. Midas asked to be able to turn everything into gold with his touch… And we all know how this one ends…

A Gift for Ariadne

To honour his love, Bacchus once threw Ariadne’s crown into the air, creating this way the constellation Corona Borealis. They had several children together, among them famous Priapus, Phthonus and Deianira.