Dionysus

myminifactory

This sculpture represents Dionysus, the ancient Greek deity associated with grape harvests, winemaking, wine production, fertility, ritual frenzies, spiritual ecstasies, and theatrical performances in ancient Greek mythology and faith. Wine held a significant position in Greek culture, with the cult of Dionysus serving as the primary focal point for its unbridled consumption. His worship established itself firmly during the seventh century BC. It's possible that he was revered as far back as c. 1500–1100 BC by Mycenaean Greeks; remnants of Dionysian-type cults have also been discovered in ancient Minoan Crete. His origins are shrouded in mystery, and his cults took many forms; some ancient sources describe them as Thracian, while others label them Greek. In certain cults, he arrives from the east, as a foreigner from Asia; in others, he emerges from Ethiopia to the south. He is a god of epiphany, "the god that appears", and his status as an outsider-god may be an integral aspect of his cults. As a prominent figure in Greek mythology and faith, Dionysus gains increasing importance over time and is included in some lists of the twelve Olympians, ranking as the last of their number, and the only deity born from a mortal mother. His festivals drive the development of Greek theatre.