"Girls Gone Greek" (Sakhi Thirani) / "Greek Maenadism Reconsidered" (Jan N. Bremmer) / The Dance of the Bacchantes by Charles Gleyre (1849) / "Ugly, Creepy, Disgusting, and Other Modes of Abjection (Jela Krečič, Slavoj Žižek) / Nymphs Dancing to Pan's Flute by Joseph Thomanek (1920)
The City Dionysia (known also as the Greater Dionysia) was one of two ancient annual Athenian festivals grouped together as The Dionysia, dedicated to Lord Dionysus. The City Dionysia was held during the 10th to 17th of Elaphebolion (which roughly coincides to late March to early April) for around 8 days. The festival celebrates and honors the origin of Dionysos Eleuthereus' (which meant "The Liberator") arrival to Athens and is heavily known and famed for the theatrical competitions of Greek tragedies.
HISTORY
Two main events were pillars to the City Dionysia, which usually split the festival days in half. These were the procession and dramatic competitions.
During the first day of City Dionysia, a grand procession (known as pompe) was held entering the city and marching to the Theatre of Dionysus in which phalloi were carried atop of poles alongside a wooden statue of Dionysos Eleuthereus. Other important offerings were also carried during this procession like baskets, long-loaf bread, jars of water, goatskin bags of wine, and many more offerings. These were later followed a day after by dithyrambic competitions. Music and poetry was also played out in the following days by flute players or celebrity poets. To end the first half, bulls were sacrificed and a feast was held. A second procession then occurred (known as the komos).
In the second half of the City Dionysia, theatre and plays were held, Selected playwrights would announce the titles of their plays, days ahead, and present a tetralogy of three Greek tragedies followed by a satyr play (much more lighthearted) to end the competition on a good note. These plays were performed live in front of an audience who judged them, five days of the festival were set aside just for this. Though less important in the City Dionysia compared to the Lenaia, comedic competitions were also held. On the last day of the festival, the winners were announced and the prize of a goat was given.
ORIGINS 🍆
According to myth, the festival was established after the bordering town of Eleutherae brought a cult statue of Dionysus to Athens. Athenians initially rejected this and so as punishment, a plague was brought about by Dionysus affecting male Athenians and their genitalia. A cure was found with the acceptance of the cult of Dionysus. As payment, Athenians must offer due honors to the god and hold a procession carrying a phallus in recognition of their failings.
RITUAL ACTS
• Take a walk at a local park or botanical garden (you can pretend like it's a procession!)
• Wine-drinking or drinking of any kind of fruity beverage
• Pouring libations for Lord Dionysus (wine, honeyed water, fruity beverages)
• Creating phallic symbols (by modeling clay, drawing, paper mache, or simply doodling)
• Mixing sweet wine (3 parts water to 2 parts wine)
• Watch a musical
• Read Greek tragedies or watch adaptations of Greek tragedies (here is a link to My Library with Greek tragedies and an adaptation of The Bacchae)
• Compare translations of Greek tragedies (Carson, Arrowsmith, or Wilson for e.g.)
• Write a play, a greek tragedy, or a dithyramb yourself
• Play the flute or any musical instrument
• Offer long-loafs, wine, and baskets
• Recite the Orphic or Homeric Hymns dedicated to Dionysus
(Orphic Hymns: #30, #45, #50)
(Homeric Hymns: #1, #7, #26)
Thank you again and have a Merry City Dionysia! Euoi! 🍆
Salomé's Dance by Leopold Schmutzler (detail) | Girls at the carpet by Robert E. McGinnis | Unknown artist | painting by Pan Inkhoo | Dumplings by Vladimir Mullin | Salomé by Francisco Masriera | New World for Olds by David McKall Johnston | Cassandra by Florence + The Machine
