Myth and Dionysus

Painted vases used at the symposium frequently represent Dionysus, the god of wine, and his followers in their iconography. Dionysus is recognisable by his beard, his drinking cup or horn and the representation of being heavily wreathed with vine or ivy. The importance of the god of wine and his myths in association with the symposium cannot therefore be overlooked.

Such images, like that of Dionysus reclining on the pirate ship with its mast laden with vine, painted by Exekias, would have revealed itself as one drank from the kylix. The imagery of Dionysus sailing on the 'wine dark sea', as the participant of the symposium drank from his cup, effectively emphasises the interrelatedness of aspects of the importance of wine and the god of wine in the social setting of the symposium.

Wine, as a gift from the god, was integral to the drinking party. The effect of the wine on the participants was an important element of the symposium. This is especially important as the wine expressed, in the drinker, the effect of the vine and the qualities of Dionysus, the power to inspire and raise the spirits. The amount of wine drunk and the strength of the wine were regulated at the drinking parties. During the party, through the growing intensity of the wine, the advancing stages of drunkenness revealed the attributes of the god himself. The stages of intensity range from well being to love to desire to wantonness to deeds of violence. It is important to recognise that the drinking of wine was associated with Dionysus and that myths were an important part of Greek society, as can be seen in frequent expression of myth in art and poetry.

Emma Belton