Living In The World Of Ancient Mythology
Dionsus/Bacchus
MythAccording to one myth, Dionysus is the son of the god Zeus and the mortal woman, Semele
(daughter of Cadmus of Thebes). Semele is killed by Zeus' lightning
bolts while Dionysus is still in her womb. Dionysus is rescued and
undergoes a second birth from Zeus after developing in his thigh. Zeus
then gives the infant to some nymphs to be raised. In another version,
one with more explicit religious overtones, Dionysus, also referred to
as Zagreus in this account, is the son of Zeus and Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. Hera gets the Titans to lure the infant with toys, and then they rip him to shreds eating everything but Zagreus' heart, which is saved by either Athena, Rhea, or Demeter.
Zeus remakes his son from the heart and implants him in Semele who
bears a new Dionysus Zagreus. Hence, as in the earlier account,
Dionysus is called "twice born." The latter account formed a part of
the Orphic religion's religious mythology. Dionsus' Appearance: He had characteristics of a goat and was often portrayed wearing horns.