Meet with us the Roman god of wine, Bacchus. We discover everything about him, his relationship with happiness, joy and endless feasts.
¿Who was Bacchus?
Bacchus was essentially a copy of the Greek god Dionysus. He was the god of agriculture and wine and the son of Jupiter (Zeus in Greek mythology). He roamed the land, showing people how to grow vines and how to process grapes into wine. Bacchus was not only the god of wine, but also the Roman god of good humor, hilarity, merriment and festivities. The festival called Bacchanalia was held in his honor.
The terrible reputation of these festivals, known for their debauchery and where all kinds of crimes and political conspiracies were supposed to be planned, led to the banning of these festivals. In 186 B.C. the Roman Senate issued a decree, the so-called “Senatus consultum de Bacchanalibus”, prohibiting bacchanals throughout Italy, except in some special cases, in which the Senate reserved the right to authorize them.
Origins
Bacchus is often confused with Dionysus. They represent the same symbolism and myths, as he is the Roman version of the Greek god. By exploring the myths surrounding the god of wine, it is easy to see that he is a duplicate of Dionysus. Their myths are virtually identical, except for the names of the supporting roles.
Bacchus has a divine mission, and that is his role as liberator. During his drunken frenzies, Bacchus loosens the tongues of those who drink wine and other beverages, and allows people the freedom to say and do as they wish. In mid-March, secret rituals were held on Rome’s Aventine Hill to worship him. These rites were attended only by women, and were part of a mysterious religion built around Bacchus.
Neptune: God Of The Sea, Turbulences And EarthquakesThe birth of the god of wine
Bacchus was the son of Jupiter, a god. His mother was a mortal named Semele. Jupiter was married to Juno but had an affair with Semele, which resulted in the conception of Bacchus. Juno learned of the affair and sought revenge against the woman who seduced her husband.
Mortals could not see the gods in their original form. Instead, the gods transformed their appearances when they associated with mortals. Knowing this very well, Juno tricked Semele into seeing Jupiter in his true form and she was burned by seeing him in his divine form. She had not yet given birth to the Roman god, so Jupiter sewed the baby to her thigh and carried him until he was ready to be born.
Bacchus and wine
Bacchus was known as the god of agriculture and wine. He spent his childhood trained by Silenus, a great wine lover. After his training, he decided to share his knowledge with the masses and traveled the world teaching others how to grow the necessary components and turn them into wine. He did this until he took his place on Olympus.
Appearance
There are many statues and painted works of art dedicated to Bacchus. He is usually shown as a middle-aged man with a beard and a full head of hair that has been crowned with an intricate head full of grapes and vines. He is also often shown holding a cup of wine, presumably made by him.
Symbology
Bacchus is most often associated with wine and the vine. It is uncommon to see him pictured without them. Another symbol of the god is his staff, which was crowned with a pine cone. He often carried this staff and used it as he traveled the world. He is also associated with celebration, as he always had a procession full of followers who danced while he made wine.
