logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
54m 7s

Dionysus: God of Wine

History Hit
About this episode

Dionysus. He's known as the party God of ancient Greece who you never wanted to cross. Associated with theatre, mysterious cults and even, on one occasion, turning pirates into dolphins. But who exactly was the 12th God of the Greek Pantheon? And why has he become associated with having a good time?


In today’s episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes continues our series on Greek Gods and Goddesses by exploring the infamous patron of wine with Dr Sarah Iles Johnston. Together they deep dive into the many myths that shaped his legend, starting with the horrific fate that befell King Pentheus after he banned the worship of Dionysus.


This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.


Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code ANCIENTS - sign up here.


You can take part in our listener survey here.

Up next
Today
Doggerland: The North Sea Atlantis?
Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Rachel Bynoe who has literally dived into the enigmatic world of Doggerland, a prehistoric landmass now submerged beneath the North Sea.They discuss how archaeological research is conducted underwater, the challenges and discoveries associated with ... Show More
47m 36s
Jul 6
Hannibal's March on Rome
It was perhaps Hannibal’s greatest gamble — after years of victories, not least his famed trek across the snow-capped Alps, could he strike at Rome itself?In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Louis Rawlings to explore the dramatic years after Hannibal’ ... Show More
55m 55s
Jul 3
Plato's Republic
Today we journey into the creation of Plato's Republic. Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. James Romm to discover how Plato's encounters with the tyrant-ruled city of Syracuse and its rulers, Dionysius the Elder and Dionysius the Younger, deeply influenced his philosophical masterpi ... Show More
55m 27s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2020
Movin’ On Up, Ariadne & the Adventures of Her God of Wine, Dionysus (There Are Pirates!)
Theseus left Ariadne alone on an island, then what happened? Ariadne moves on to bigger and better things: the god Dionysus. Before all that, though, Dionysus was kidnapped by pirates. CW/TW: suicide, and, far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typicall ... Show More
27m 12s
Sep 2023
There’s No One Quite Like Dionysus, Wine Daddy of Greek Myth
Dionysus is as mysterious as he is wonderful, he's new and he's old, local and foreign... Plus, he seriously loved his wife Ariadne. Help keep LTAMB going by subscribing to Liv's Patreon for bonus content!CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and ty ... Show More
43m 4s
Dec 2022
Zeus: King of the Gods
Zeus, the chief deity in Greek mythology, is the Olympian god of sky and thunder and is king of all other gods and men. His tale is one of overthrowing fathers, eating babies and seducing women, both mortal and divine, by changing his own form. He's one of the most complex figure ... Show More
55m 6s
Feb 2024
Greek Myths: The Furies
The gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece have been written about for thousands of years. From their home atop Mount Olympus, they reigned over the land, sea and sky. The course of human history was shaped by the whims and wishes of these deities, and the Furies were no exception. ... Show More
20m 26s
Sep 2022
Finally We’re Talking About Zagreus, Are You Happy? The Orphic Thrice Born Dionysus
Zagreus, Zagreus, Zagreus. What a mess of a story. It's gross, it's weird, it's both an afterthought and supremely important. Welcome to the story of thrice born Dionysus, better known as Zagreus.CW/TW: **this episode includes particularly egregious assault and incest, even for G ... Show More
38m 43s
Feb 2021
Dionysus Is Everyone & Everything, Queer Theory with the Queer Classicist Yentl Love
Dionysus is Queer as hell. Liv speaks with Yentl Love of the Queer Classicist all about Dionysus and queer theory. Plus, is Harry Styles today's Dionysus?! (Yes.) Here is a link to the post referenced: https://www.thequeerclassicist.com/post/harry-styles-dionysus-reborn.CW/TW: fa ... Show More
1h 3m
Nov 2023
Ancient Goddesses of Sex and War
Sex and death are often intertwined: one is the start of creation, the other is the end. And as we’ll learn in today’s episode, ancient battlefields were the setting of intimate acts, too. One on one, heart pounding, adrenaline pumping and picking out a partner to…engage with. An ... Show More
32m 1s
Jul 2020
The “Hero” Who Kidnapped an Amazon, a Child, & a Goddess (Theseus Finale)
Theseus, Theseus, Theseus. He's not done terrorizing the Hellenic world, next up: a kidnapping spree including a very, very young Helen of Sparta, an Amazonian queen, and a flesh and blood goddess. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically ... Show More
25m 33s
Sep 2022
Hades Pt. 1
Listeners, this week we’re sharing a classic episode from the Mythology archive on the Lord of Shades himself. Hades is one of the most famous gods in the Greek Pantheon, and possibly its most misunderstood. Today, we descend into the underworld, piecing together disparate storie ... Show More
58m 28s