#dionysian
I see so many people lately talking about having a community to worship with, and I just wanted to put out a gentle reminder to everyone that if you’re in the greater Las Vegas NV area and want someone to join you for Hellenic ritual or to even just hang out and chat with about Hellenic stuff, feel free to message me or send me an ask. My sister and I are both Hellenists, and would be happy to join others in our area in worship and ritual if that’s something you need and/or want
Same goes for me but in the Birmingham AL area!
north bay, CA :)
Galway, Ireland if anyones interested! Im really new and not the most knowledgable but totally would love to have some people to learn with!
Puget Sound in WA!
Hampton Roads, VA!
my ilk and I are in the northeastern US, split between the NYC and Boston areas, and we’re weird but friendly.
Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Dionysos with maenads, satyrs, and athletes by The Kleophrades Painter 500 BCE
“Difficulties are things that show what men are. For the future, in case of any difficulty, remember, that God, like a gymnastic trainer, has pitted you against a rough antagonist. For what end? That you may be an Olympic conqueror; and this cannot be without toil. No man, in my opinion, has a more profitable difficulty on his hands than you have; provided you will but use it, as an athletic champion uses his antagonist.
Suppose we were to send you as a scout to Rome. But no one ever sends a timorous scout, who, when he only hears a noise, or sees a shadow, runs back frightened, and says, “The enemy is at hand.” So now, if you should come and tell us: “Things are in a fearful way at Rome; death is terrible, banishment terrible, calumny terrible, poverty terrible; run, good people, the enemy is at hand”; — we will answer: Get you gone, and prophesy for yourself; our only fault is, that we have sent such a scout. Diogenes was sent a scout before you, but he told us other tidings. He says that death is no evil, for it is nothing base; that calumny is only the noise of madmen. And what account did this spy give us of pain, of pleasure, of poverty? He says, that to be naked is better than a purple robe; to sleep upon the bare ground, the softest bed; and gives a proof of all he says by his own courage, tranquility, and freedom; and, moreover, by a healthy and robust body. “There is no enemy near,” he says. “All is profound peace.” How so, Diogenes? “Look upon me,” he says. “Am I hurt? Am I wounded? Have I run away from any one?” This is a scout worth having. But you come, and tell us one thing after another. Go back and look more carefully, and without fear.”
Epictetus; Carter, Elizabeth. The Complete Works of Epictetus (pp. 73-74). Lazy Raven Publishing. Kindle Edition.
More images and sources: https://paganimagevault.blogspot.com/2022/04/dionysos-with-maenads-satyrs-and.html
“Villa dei misteri” (Villa of the Mysteries), Pompeii, Italy.
Fresco, I century BC.
Dionysian ritual.
Art of ancient Rome.
Post link
A Hymn to Dionysôs
I begin to sing of Thundering Iobakkhos,
He who writhes in the climbing vine.
He, whom Semêlê bore–
Liberated by Lightning, midwived by the Holy fire of Agathos Theos.
And sown into the supplicated womb that is Kronion’s muscled-thigh.
He, who was hidden within the hills of Nysa
To be kept hidden from Jealous Híra
Who wished to bless him with her mighty wrath.
He is named Dionysôs Dimêtôr,
Twice born son of Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala,
Who descended into Haidês to aid in the resurrection
Of his ill-fated Semêlê
To aid in her ascension to join Oi Theoi in eternal bliss.
Down the hills of every wild mountain.
Within the green of the ripened vine.
In the whisker of the growling leopard.
He is there, blessèd is he.
And Blessèd are those who know the mysteries of Allah.
Blessèd are those who hallow their lives in the worship of God,
Whomsoever the spirit of God possesseth is one who belongs to the most holy body of Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala.
Blessèd are the dancers and those who are purified in the frenzy of Dionysôs, who dances among the hills in the holiest place of God.
Blessèd are the thyrsus-bearers, who wield in their hands the holy wand of Allah.
Blessèd are those who wear the crown of the ivy of that which is sacred to He who is Divine incarnate.
Blessèd, blessèd are they: Dionysôs is their God!
Dionysôs, who is honey sweet on the tongue of Ariadne
O, mighty Phallên,
He who lives in the bed chamber cry.
Let not a noise creep from the tip of my own tongue,
If not the shout of ecstasy
In observance of your rite.
Almighty God,
Who drives men into madness,
Hear my hymn and bless me with thine own bliss
That I may throw my hands to the sun
In your ecstatic presence
That I may whisper breaths of pleasure
And be dampened in my own sweat
In the dance of Hermaphroditos.
To sing praise to Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala
From which you became God
I wipe tears from my face
And bless the ground on which I stand.
To feel you, Bromios,
In the thundering drums
As Gaia trembles
Under the assault of the Thyrsus-bearers
Who beat down the Earth in your name.
Crowned in ivy I lie beneath you
O, beautiful God,
In thanksgiving of your blessing.
The blessing of Freedom,
The blessing of He who lives in the wild brush.
I raise my arms in praise of you,
As I have before
And will do many times more
To shout the glory of your holy name.
Iobakkhos, Evohé!
Bromios, Evohé!
Mainolês, Evohé!
Phallên, Evohé!
Theoinos, Evohé!
Kissios, Evohé!
Dimêtôr, Evohé!
Sôtêrios, Evohé!
Mighty Dionysôs, to whom all of these names are applied! Evohé!
Dionysus: We free pour in this house. Measuring alcohol is for the weak
Lenaia, Maenads, & Thracian Tattoos
As some of you know, I celebrated Lenaia this past weekend, and part of that celebration was henna tattooing some maenad tattoos on myself as a devotional act to Dionysos. The process was both very easy and very difficult.
So, first, we do know maenads had tattoos–especially those known as Thracian. We see it in art of the time; we have pottery showing tattooed Thracians killing Orpheus, and in Dionysian ecstasy.
Step one went great! We know of tattoos!
Step two was to select and pick a design. Which is much harder.
See, the maenads with tattoos in pottery often followed a theme, but two depictions showed exactly the same design. Snakes, and animals in general, were common. So was the sun sign, interestingly. Sometimes, though, there were just arrow shapes going down arms, or checked patterns on forearms and legs. This could certainly just be an artistic choice, making figuring out the design even more difficult.
Finally, I picked my design. It was modeled off the two depictions below (with what I replicated is in pink); One snake, two suns on the ankles, one sun on my arm.
The first thing I realized was that this would be MUCH easier with the help of a friend.
The second thing I realized was, wow, I want to be a devotee of Dionysos.
And finally, henna is excellent, and I should do this for every holiday. (I already try to, but I often forget).
So, my results:
So, there it is! It was a little wonky, because I was hand doing henna on my own body, but I’m proud of the work, and now I kind of want these as real tattoos some day
You thought you’d seen the last of me but it’s Lenaia!!!!!!!
Hi!
I was gone. Life is chaos, the world is on fire, my body said “no.”
I return from my slumber to be very excited about Lenaia–it’s possibly my favorite festival of the year!
Lenaia is a four day festival, starting on the 12th of Gamelion (Janurary 15/January 16 at sunset) and ending on the 15th!
It’s in honor of Dionysos and the maenads, and is likely the origin of the Greater/City Dionysia! It stretches over the full moon/Dikhomenia too, which is wonderful and very Dionysian.
I’ll try to update and talk about it more over the course of the festival! So far, my plans are:
- Henna historic maenad tattoos onto myself (I’ll provide details on those when/if I share them!)
- A ritual on the 14th of Gamelion (full moon/Dikhomenia) with as many friends as I can find who are comfortable celebrating women-only festivals–I often half-joke that I’m a gyne only for festivals, and that definitely applies to the Dionysian ones!
- Redoing my prayer beads/bracelet for Dionysos
- Pouring Dionysos a libation (red vinegar)
- Be gay, do crimes
Blessed Lenaia to all! Io Dionysos, and khaire!
