Dionysus , Bacchus

Details

Known as Dionysus in Greek mythology and as Bacchus to the Romans, Dionysus is the God of wine, festivity, pleasure and madness. 

Dionysus is the son of Zeus and Semele, a priestess at the high temple of Zeus. The beautiful Semele was one of many women wooed by the amorous Zeus and who incurred the wrath of Hera as a result. Enraged yet again by Zeus' infidelity, Hera appeared to Semele as an old crone and convinced Semele to request Zeus appear to her in his full Godly glory, knowing full well that the intensity of his brilliance would kill the pregnant Semele instantly.  

In a desperate attempt to salvage something from this terrible situation, Zeus scoops the fetus from Semele's cooling body, slices open his thigh and sewed the precious babe beneath his flesh. Three months later, Hermes helped to deliver the child, and Dionysos was born. Hera was not a fan! 

Tutored by the free-spirited Silenus, Dionysus soon gets a taste for wine (which, in Ancient Greek myth, it is said he to have invented), music, dancing and plenty of pleasure. Making him popular with the other Gods and first on the invite list for any party.  

Dionysus is also notable as he was the only demi-God to become one of the Olympian twelve when Vesta graciously stepped down to make space from him.  

Dionysus regularly appears in two forms, either an older bearded man or a long-haired effeminate youth. This effeminate, almost hermaphroditic statue is based on one dated to the 1st century A.D from Myrina, Greece and is now part of the collections at the Boston Museum of Fine Art.  

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 Materials

White Earthenware or Pipeclay

Dimensions

Approx. 475 mm tall, 200 mm wide / 160 mm base width, 95 base depth

Production

This replica has been hand made in Northumberland by Potted History, based on an original artefact. It has been fired to a temperature of between 800 & 1000 Centigrade to emulate the same techniques that the original potters would have employed nearly two thousand years ago. This process often results in variations of the surface colour and texture, which is shared with the original Greek Pottery and gives each piece its unique character.

Postage

All items are sent using a second-class postal service; if you wish to have an item sent first-class, please contact us for a quote. Many Thanks