Dionysus in comparative mythology

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Dionysus, the god of wine, theatre, and ecstasy in ancient Greek religion, has been compared to many other deities, both by his classical worshippers and later scholars. These deities include figures outside of ancient Greek religion, such as Jesus, [1] Osiris, [2] Shiva, [3] and Tammuz, [4] as well as figures inside of ancient Greek religion, such as Hades. [5]

Contents

Within the Greek Pantheon

Adonis

In Plutarch's symposiacs, it is stated that there are those who believe Adonis to be the same as Dionysus, however, Plutarch acknowledges that there are others who hold them to be lovers. [6]

Outside of the Greek Pantheon

Abrahamic

Jesus Christ

Comparisons have been made between Jesus Christ and Dionysus since ancient times. Justin the Martyr, in his First Apology, notes the parallels between the cult of Dionysus and the cult of Christ, through their use of wine, donkeys, death and resurrection [7]

Egyptian

Osiris

In his Histories, Herodotus says that many believe that Osiris is the Egyptian form of Dionysus. [8]

References

  1. ↑ Justin the Martyr. First Apology. p. 54.
  2. ↑ Herodotus. The Histories. p. 2.24.
  3. ↑ Daniélou, Alain. Gods of Love and Ecstasy: The Traditions of Shiva and Dionysus.
  4. ↑ Lucian. De Dea Syria. p. 16.
  5. ↑ Heraclitus, encountering the festival of the Phallophoria, in which phalli were paraded about, remarked in a surviving fragment: "If they did not order the procession in honor of the god and address the phallus song to him, this would be the most shameless behavior. But Hades is the same as Dionysos, for whom they rave and act like bacchantes", Kerényi 1976, pp. 239–240.
  6. ↑ Plutarch. Symposiacs. pp. 4.5, 4.6.
  7. ↑ Justin the Martyr. First Apology. p. 54.
  8. ↑ Herodotus. Histories. p. 2.42.
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