This is a digital temple to Dionysus, run by a priestess in training. My name is Kor (@apollonaegletes), im 23, and i use any pronouns. I've felt called to priesthood by Dionysus for a while, and after thinking about it for a while (and getting some confirmations) I decided to go for it. This is my first time running a digital temple and training to be a priestess, so have some patience with me!
I will be posting and reblogging posts related to Dionysus, worshipping him, information on him, offerings, prayers, festival celebrations, divination, etc. You are more than welcome to tag me in posts, send asks, send requests, and send submissions for any of the above as well
All who are respectful and don't intentionally harm others are welcome here. this page follows xenia
Disclaimer: I am a priestess in training, but I am not some ultimate authority on Dionysus. I'm willing to help some, but please reach out to Dionysus on your own as well: he'd love to talk to you! Additionally, my upg is just that, my personal upg. It's not the only "correct" upg, as everyone's is correct
"The God of Theatre". This epithet suggests that Dionysus sustains the art of theater. Through the devotion of his followers, theater has become inseparable from him. He does not only influence theater, but becomes theater itself and its very essence. Every part of the stage reflects his presence, embodying the spirit of theater in every play.
➥ Dance / sing to your favorite songs or songs you'd think He would like
➥ Throw a feast in His honor
➥ Remembering to take your medication (if you have any) and taking care of your mental health
➥ Support/donate to your local theatre in His name
➥ Be a part of the theatre (or if you are in school, take a theatre / drama / stage craft class if you are able to)
➥ Stand up for those that are marginalized
➥ Write stories/plays for Him
➥ Invite Him to watch plays or movies with you, especially comedies or tragedies
➥ Throw parties or attend them
➥ Attend festivals
➥ Attend a wine tasting
➥ Go on wine tours
➥ Attend parades
➥ Drink alcohol or grape juice
➥ Learn about winemaking
➥ Support local vineyards
➥ Wear wreaths made from ivy
➥ Wear faux leopard or tiger print
➥ Wear the colour purple (or any colour you associate with him)
➥ Pray to Him for things such as protection while intoxicated/high, relaxation, improvement in your mental health, fertility, ecstasy, for everything going well in the theatre
If you have any other devotional acts that you do to honor him feel free to share them :]
Come, blessed Dionysius [Dionysos], various nam'd, bull-fac'd,
begot from Thunder, Bacchus [Bakkhos] fam'd.
Bassarian God, of universal might, whom swords, and blood, and sacred rage delight:
In heav'n rejoicing, mad, loud-sounding God, furious inspirer, bearer of the rod:
By Gods rever'd, who dwell'st with human kind, propitious come, with much-rejoicing mind.
#45:
Liknitan Bacchus [Liknitos Dionysos], bearer of the vine, thee I invoke to bless these rites divine:
Florid and gay, of nymphs the blossom bright, and of fair Venus [Aphrodite], Goddess of delight,
'Tis thine mad footsteps with mad nymphs to beat, dancing thro' groves with lightly leaping feet:
From Jove's [Zeus'] high counsels nurst by Proserpine [Persephoneia],
and born the dread of all the pow'rs divine:
Come, blessed pow'r, regard thy suppliant's voice, propitious come, and in these rites rejoice.
Homeric Hymns:
#7:
[1] I will tell of Dionysus, the son of glorious Semele, how he appeared on a jutting headland by the shore of the fruitless sea, seeming like a stripling in the first flush of manhood: his rich, dark hair was waving about him, [5] and on his strong shoulders he wore a purple robe. Presently there came swiftly over the sparkling sea Tyrsenian1 pirates on a well-decked ship —a miserable doom led them on. When they saw him they made signs to one another and sprang out quickly, and seizing him straightway [10] put him on board their ship exultingly; for they thought him the son of heaven-nurtured kings. They sought to bind him with rude bonds, but the bonds would not hold him, and the withes fell far away from his hands and feet: and he sat with a smile [15] in his dark eyes. Then the helmsman understood all and cried out at once to his fellows and said:
“Madmen! what god is this whom you have taken and bind, strong that he is? Not even the well-built ship can carry him. Surely this is either Zeus or Apollo who has the silver bow, [20] or Poseidon, for he looks not like mortal men but like the gods who dwell on Olympus. Come, then, let us set him free upon the dark shore at once: do not lay hands on him, lest he grow angry and stir up dangerous winds and heavy squalls.”
[25] So said he: but the master chid him with taunting words: “Madman, mark the wind and help hoist sail on the ship: catch all the sheets. As for this fellow we men will see to him: I reckon he is bound for Egypt or for Cyprus or to the Hyperboreans or further still. But in the end [30] he will speak out and tell us his friends and all his wealth and his brothers, now that providence has thrown him in our way.”
When he had said this, he had mast and sail hoisted on the ship, and the wind filled the sail and the crew hauled taut the sheets on either side. But soon strange things were seen among them. [35] First of all sweet, fragrant wine ran streaming throughout all the black ship and a heavenly smell arose, so that all the seamen were seized with amazement when they saw it. And all at once a vine spread out both ways along the top of the sail with many clusters hanging down from it, [40] and a dark ivy-plant twined about the mast, blossoming with flowers, and with rich berries growing on it; and all the thole-pins were covered with garlands. When the pirates saw all this, then at last they bade the helmsman to put the ship to land. But the god changed into a dreadful lion there on the ship, [45] in the bows, and roared loudly: amidships also he showed his wonders and created a shaggy bear which stood up ravening, while on the forepeak was the lion glaring fiercely with scowling brows. And so the sailors fled into the stern and crowded bemused about the right-minded helmsman, until suddenly the lion sprang upon the master [50] and seized him; and when the sailors saw it they leapt out overboard one and all into the bright sea, escaping from a miserable fate, and were changed into dolphins. But on the helmsman Dionysus had mercy and held him back and made him altogether happy, saying to him:
[55] “Take courage, good...; you have found favour with my heart. I am loud-crying Dionysus whom Cadmus' daughter Semele bare of union with Zeus.”
Hail, child of fair-faced Semele! He who forgets you can in no wise order sweet song.
#26:
[1] I begin to sing of ivy-crowned Dionysus, the loud-crying god, splendid son of Zeus and glorious Semele. The rich-haired Nymphs received him in their bosoms from the lord his father and fostered and nurtured him carefully [5] in the dells of Nysa, where by the will of his father he grew up in a sweet-smelling cave, being reckoned among the immortals. But when the goddesses had brought him up, a god oft hymned, then began he to wander continually through the woody coombes, thickly wreathed with ivy and laurel. And the Nymphs followed in his train [10] with him for their leader; and the boundless forest was filled with their outcry.
And so hail to you, Dionysus, god of abundant clusters! Grant that we may come again rejoicing to this season, and from that season onwards for many a year.
Rejoice for the coming of spring and the sprouting of the vines!
Bacchus [Dionysos] I call, loud-sounding and divine, fanatic God, a two-fold shape is thine:
Thy various names and attributes I sing, O, first-born, thrice begotten, Bacchic king:
Rural, ineffable, two-form'd, obscure, two-horn'd, with ivy crown'd, euion, pure.
Bull-fac'd, and martial, bearer of the vine, endu'd with counsel prudent [Eubouleos] and divine:
Triennial, whom the leaves of vines adorn, of Jove [Zeus] and Proserpine [Persephoneia], occultly born.
Immortal dæmon, hear my suppliant voice, give me in blameless plenty to rejoice;
And listen gracious to my mystic pray'r, surrounded with thy choir of nurses fair.
#46:
Bacchus Pericionius [Dionysos Perikionios], hear my pray'r,
who mad'st the house of Cadmus once thy care,
With matchless force, his pillars twining round, (when burning thunders shook the solid ground,
In flaming, founding torrents borne along), propt by thy grasp indissolubly strong.
Come mighty Bacchus to these rites inclin'd, and bless thy suppliants with rejoicing mind.
Homeric Hymn:
#1:
[1] ... For some say, at Dracanum; and some, on windy Icarus; and some, in Naxos, O Heaven-born, Insewn1; and others by the deep-eddying river Alpheus that pregnant Semele bare you to Zeus the thunder-lover. [5] And others yet, lord, say you were born in Thebes; but all these lie. The Father of men and gods gave you birth remote from men and secretly from white-armed Hera. There is a certain Nysa, a mountain most high and richly grown with woods, far off in Phoenice, near the streams of Aegyptus ...
[10] “and men will lay up for her2 many offerings in her shrines. And as these things are three,3 so shall mortals ever sacrifice perfect hecatombs to you at your feasts each three years.”
The Son of Cronos spoke and nodded with his dark brows. And the divine locks of the king flowed forward [15] from his immortal head, and he made great Olympus reel. So spake wise Zeus and ordained it with a nod.
Be favorable, O Insewn, Inspirer of frenzied women! we singers sing of you as we begin and as we end a strain, and none forgetting you may call holy song to mind. [20] And so, farewell, Dionysus, Insewn, with your mother Semele whom men call Thyone.
Rejoice for the coming of spring and the sprouting of the vine!
Anthesteria begins tomorrow: here's how this account will celebrate
Day one (Pithoigia): I will post some of the Orphic and Homeric Hymns to Dionysus, as well as physical (which will not be posted) and digital offerings to Dionysus. If any of you post digital offerings for this day too, feel free to tag me in them or put them in my asks!
Day two (Khoes): The rest of the Orphic and Homeric Hymns will be posted, as well as, potentially, a reading (tarot + Greek runes) from Dionysus (if he wishes it to be posted; if not, I'll discuss the spread I used and leave space for others to post their readings). Continue tagging me in/sending asks of offerings!
Day three (Khytrai): I'll be reblogging resources on ancestor veneration and communication. My own observation of this day will be done privately, as I see ancestor veneration as personal and private.
In general: I'll be posting pictures of flowers to adorn the digital temple for Dionysus Ανθιον (anthion, of the flowers). I encourage drinking fruit juice (wine if you're old enough, but please drink responsibly) and doing your own prayers and offerings to Dionysus for this festival as you wish; though, remember that you can celebrate in your own personal way different from me! Everyone's practice is different.
Rejoice for the coming of spring and the sprouting of the vines!
Pinterest board, which is where I'll save all flower and other pics used for the festival.
