BACCHUS--DIONYSUS.
_Ques._ Who was Bacchus?
_Ans._ He was the son of Jupiter and Sem´ele and was worshipped as the
god of wine.
_Ques._ How is he represented?
_Ans._ As a young man, crowned with ivy and grape leaves; he sits in a
chariot, drawn sometimes by panthers and lynxes, and sometimes by
tigers and lions. He carries in his hand a thyrsus--that is, a staff
encircled by ivy and grape leaves; a troop of demons and drunken
satyrs follow him.
_Ques._ What was the story of Sem´ele?
_Ans._ She was destroyed by the jealousy of Juno. This goddess visited
Sem´ele in the shape of an old woman, and persuaded her to ask Jupiter
to visit her with all the glory which encompassed him in heaven. All
happened as Juno desired, and Sem´ele was consumed by the lightnings
which surrounded Jupiter. Bacchus did not share his mother's fate, but
was conveyed to Naxos, where he was educated by some nymphs.
_Ques._ How did Bacchus reward their care?
_Ans._ He transformed them into the stars known as the Hyades.
_Ques._ Who aided the nymphs in their care of Bacchus?
_Ans._ An old man named Silenus. He was considered a demi-god.
_Ques._ How is Silenus represented?
_Ans._ He seems to be the personification of drunkenness; he is
sometimes represented as seated intoxicated on a cask of wine, his
head crowned with grape leaves, and his face stained with the lees of
wine; sometimes as mounted on an ass, and following the car of
Bacchus.
_Ques._ What were the first exploits of Bacchus?
_Ans._ He distinguished himself in the combats between the gods and
giants, taking the form of a lion to strike terror into the latter.
_Ques._ What other actions are attributed to him?
_Ans._ He taught men how to plant the vine and till the ground. He is
said to have subdued India, and many other countries of the East.
_Ques._ How was he worshipped?
_Ans._ The goat and the hog were offered to him in sacrifice; and the
ivy, the fir, the bindweed, the fig and the vine were consecrated to
him.
_Ques._ What feasts were held in his honor?
_Ans._ The feasts of Bacchus were various. The Bacchanalia or Orgia
were the most celebrated. They were at first participated in by women
only but afterwards men were admitted to join in these rites. The
women were called Bacchantes, and ran about with their hair
dishevelled, shouting and singing in a distracted manner. The Roman
Senate at length abolished this festival.
_Ques._ Relate the story of Pentheus?
_Ans._ Pentheus was king of Thebes. He not only refused to acknowledge
the divinity of Bacchus, but endeavored to prevent the celebration of
his orgies. Having presumed to intrude on the revels of the
Bacchantes, they were seized by a sort of madness, and rushing upon
the unhappy man, tore him to pieces. The mother of Pentheus, and her
sisters, were the leaders in this act, which was considered to have
been performed under a divine impulse.
_Ques._ What was the punishment inflicted on Alcitho´e and her
sisters?
_Ans._ These were Theban maidens who ridiculed the orgies of Bacchus.
During the celebration of these rites, they remained at home, plying
the distaff and the spindle, and singing over their tasks. For this,
Alcitho´e and her sisters were transformed by the power of Bacchus
into bats; and the spindle and yarn with which they worked were
changed to ivy.
_Ques._ Relate the transformation of mariners into dolphins?
_Ans._ A ship touched at Chios for a supply of fresh water. The
sailors who went on shore, found near the spring a boy of uncommon
grace and beauty. They bore him to the ship, still heavy with sleep
and wine, and declared their intention of selling him at the next
port. Acoe´tes, their captain, tried to dissuade them from the crime,
the more so, as he perceived that there was something more than mortal
about the captive youth. In the meantime Bacchus, for it was he,
awaking from his slumber, begged the sailors to land him at Naxos.
This the captain promised, but when they had set sail, the mariners
took possession of the ship, and steered in another direction. The god
now revealed himself. The sails and cordage suddenly appeared hung
with grapes and ivy; spotted panthers lay at his feet, and when the
terrified sailors tried to leap overboard, they were suddenly changed
into dolphins. The captain was spared, and landed with Bacchus on the
shores of Chios.
_Ques._ What is the origin of the history of Bacchus?
_Ans._ He was probably some prince who taught the people to till the
ground, and cultivate the vine. They disgraced his memory in after
times by the drunken revels they held in his honor.