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Dionysos Exciter to Frenzy: A study of the God Dionysos: history, myth and lore
"There was 'no god more present' than Dionysos: that is, out of all the ancient gods Dionysos was one of the few who people felt that they could reach out and touch" Chapter 4: A God of Many Forms Dionysos: Exciter to Frenzy is a phenomenal scholarly exploration of one of the most complex, liminal and paradoxical gods of the ancient world. In this journey through the realms of Dionysos, the author Vikki Bramshaw guides the reader through the mysterious world of the multifaceted Dionysos, revealing his hidden faces and forms, demonstrating his presence in different cultures, the growth cycles of nature, the establishment of theatre and even the ancient Greek calendar. The roots of the wine god Dionysos, like his vines, spread throughout the ancient world. From the Cretan Zagreus, to the Thracian Sabazios and the Egyptian Iachen, his stories permeated the myths and traditions of both the untamed wilderness and the culture of cities such as Athens. Joined by slaves and rulers, wild flesh-ripping Maenads and vegetarian Orphics, wine-makers and hunters, the thrice-born Dionysos danced his way through the challenges of rebirth and initiation, with the liberating ecstasy of trance and possession. The god Dionysos unites opposites, he is many-formed, dying yet eternal, chthonian and heavenly. His ancient myths, mystical symbols, pagan rites and incarnations represent a uniquely detailed and relevant perspective of the transformation he brings through prophecy and personal liberation which is still relevant today.
240 pages, Paperback
First published December 9, 2013
60 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
About the author
Vikki Bramshaw
10 books11 followersVikki Bramshaw is an author and researcher committed to studying folklore, authentic ritual and the esoteric since the late 90's.
Some of her passions are religious history, theurgy, initiatory rites, trance and magic.
Her ground-breaking 'Dionysos: Exciter to Frenzy', was published in 2013, exploring the numerous facets of the god Dionysos, revealing the hidden faces of the thrice-born god and the extent of his influence in the mysteries of the ancient world.
Vikki has also contributed to a number of anthologies, journals and magazines over the years and speaks at a range of events about ritual, magic and religious history.
Vikki Bramshaw lives in the UK in deepest darkest Hampshire.
Some of her passions are religious history, theurgy, initiatory rites, trance and magic.
Her ground-breaking 'Dionysos: Exciter to Frenzy', was published in 2013, exploring the numerous facets of the god Dionysos, revealing the hidden faces of the thrice-born god and the extent of his influence in the mysteries of the ancient world.
Vikki has also contributed to a number of anthologies, journals and magazines over the years and speaks at a range of events about ritual, magic and religious history.
Vikki Bramshaw lives in the UK in deepest darkest Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 25, 2014
Dionysos is a God that most people generally have heard of and his name has survived through millennia; even if the specifics of his cult are not common knowledge. If pushed, people may be able to say something about his role as a God of the Vine. However, those who work with and worship Dionysos know his many faces and the depth of his concerns, which are much greater than the generalised understanding held by those who do not.
Bramshaw’s erudite and informative book comes from the latter perspective. It explores Dionysos in his many guises and how he is presented through history and myth. For those who have little knowledge of Dionysos – and even for those who know this God – her book is a goldmine of information. It is a complex, in-depth book and a joy to read.
The Cult of Dionysos is an ancient mystery religion and the cycles of birth, death and rebirth are explored through the myths of Dionysos the thrice-born. The concepts of sacrifice, dismemberment and rejuvenation are part of his Mysteries and Bramshaw explores the meanings of these rites and their links to other mythos. For his adherents, Dionysos is a God who walks all the realms. He is a God born of a human mother and an immortal father. The cyclic nature of the pattern of his worship is followed through a three- year cycle with each year being allocated to an aspect of the God: absence, presence and unity. Each year has its own observations and obligations, which are explored thoroughly; and the aspects accompanying each incarnation are placed in the context of the weather patterns of the countries surrounding the Aegean Sea and the year of his trieteric cycle of worship. The nature of the God is explained through each phase, with the duality of present / absent being central to understanding his interactions with his worshippers and cycle of the year.
One of the general misconceptions that may exist about Dionysos is that drunken orgies are part of his rites. Bramshaw deftly quashes this and explores the part that alcohol actually does play in his rites, some of which is very surprising and thought-provoking. In addition to wine, Dionysian worship also involved mead and a drink made from milk and honey, called melikratos. The time of fermentation is part of the acknowledgement of his mysteries and links back to the duality of this God: absence and presence. This facet of his worship is extremely interesting and certainly clears any misunderstandings about Dionysos as only a God of out-of-control drunkenness.
The role of the Maenads, the female devotees who are portrayed as wild women during their rites, is explored and explained. Again, the truth of their role is surprising and much deeper than the general reader may have initially understood. These women, who included matrons as well as maidens, communed with Dionysos by altering their consciousness with ecstatic rites – one aspect of the frenzy of worship. The purposes and the methods are beautifully described. However, Dionysos is a God of duality and the Maenads have their counterpart role: the Thyiads. This role seems to belong in the ‘absent’ – the quiet time, a time of personal sacrifice, awakening, renewal and nurturing. One can only speculate that the Thyiad is less well-known because it is not associated with actions that would raise either an eyebrow or a frisson of Victorian disapproval.
Bramshaw’s book is extensive and her sources reach back to writers such as Nonnus, Homer, Ovid and Euripides. This volume comprehensively documents Dionysos, his myths and symbolism through these early writings. The animals and vegetation sacred to him each have their story to tell and their symbolism to explain and explore. As with the parts of the book highlighted here, these sections too are thorough and thoughtful. The bull, goat, snake and big cats all have significant roles and meanings for adherents of Dionysos. The book concludes with tables giving a calendar of correspondences of Athenian months and the rites and rituals associated with Dionysos. All of it adds complexity and layers of meaning to a God who is much more than a mere ancient God of the Vine.
Although it may not necessarily be an easy read for those who have scant knowledge of Dionysos, this book is highly recommended. It is well-written, well-sourced and well-referenced. Bramshaw’s style gently leads her readers through a maze of complex relationships, interpretations and understandings of ancient practices and texts through the prism of one who honours Dionysos in the present day.
Bramshaw’s erudite and informative book comes from the latter perspective. It explores Dionysos in his many guises and how he is presented through history and myth. For those who have little knowledge of Dionysos – and even for those who know this God – her book is a goldmine of information. It is a complex, in-depth book and a joy to read.
The Cult of Dionysos is an ancient mystery religion and the cycles of birth, death and rebirth are explored through the myths of Dionysos the thrice-born. The concepts of sacrifice, dismemberment and rejuvenation are part of his Mysteries and Bramshaw explores the meanings of these rites and their links to other mythos. For his adherents, Dionysos is a God who walks all the realms. He is a God born of a human mother and an immortal father. The cyclic nature of the pattern of his worship is followed through a three- year cycle with each year being allocated to an aspect of the God: absence, presence and unity. Each year has its own observations and obligations, which are explored thoroughly; and the aspects accompanying each incarnation are placed in the context of the weather patterns of the countries surrounding the Aegean Sea and the year of his trieteric cycle of worship. The nature of the God is explained through each phase, with the duality of present / absent being central to understanding his interactions with his worshippers and cycle of the year.
One of the general misconceptions that may exist about Dionysos is that drunken orgies are part of his rites. Bramshaw deftly quashes this and explores the part that alcohol actually does play in his rites, some of which is very surprising and thought-provoking. In addition to wine, Dionysian worship also involved mead and a drink made from milk and honey, called melikratos. The time of fermentation is part of the acknowledgement of his mysteries and links back to the duality of this God: absence and presence. This facet of his worship is extremely interesting and certainly clears any misunderstandings about Dionysos as only a God of out-of-control drunkenness.
The role of the Maenads, the female devotees who are portrayed as wild women during their rites, is explored and explained. Again, the truth of their role is surprising and much deeper than the general reader may have initially understood. These women, who included matrons as well as maidens, communed with Dionysos by altering their consciousness with ecstatic rites – one aspect of the frenzy of worship. The purposes and the methods are beautifully described. However, Dionysos is a God of duality and the Maenads have their counterpart role: the Thyiads. This role seems to belong in the ‘absent’ – the quiet time, a time of personal sacrifice, awakening, renewal and nurturing. One can only speculate that the Thyiad is less well-known because it is not associated with actions that would raise either an eyebrow or a frisson of Victorian disapproval.
Bramshaw’s book is extensive and her sources reach back to writers such as Nonnus, Homer, Ovid and Euripides. This volume comprehensively documents Dionysos, his myths and symbolism through these early writings. The animals and vegetation sacred to him each have their story to tell and their symbolism to explain and explore. As with the parts of the book highlighted here, these sections too are thorough and thoughtful. The bull, goat, snake and big cats all have significant roles and meanings for adherents of Dionysos. The book concludes with tables giving a calendar of correspondences of Athenian months and the rites and rituals associated with Dionysos. All of it adds complexity and layers of meaning to a God who is much more than a mere ancient God of the Vine.
Although it may not necessarily be an easy read for those who have scant knowledge of Dionysos, this book is highly recommended. It is well-written, well-sourced and well-referenced. Bramshaw’s style gently leads her readers through a maze of complex relationships, interpretations and understandings of ancient practices and texts through the prism of one who honours Dionysos in the present day.
April 23, 2021
I wanted to read it for a uni paper, but it was too heavily stacked towards the spiritual to really be much use. It was interesting, and I really enjoyed this perspective on Dionysus, but it felt like it dragged on and had citations in weird places. Like, there was a lot that should have had citations that did not have them, and it was glaringly obvious. And it took me FOREVER to get through. I just wasn't engaged at all.
But yeah, it's alright. Spiritualism isn't my thing, but it might be your thing. Probably worth a read if you're really super specifically into Dionysus.
But yeah, it's alright. Spiritualism isn't my thing, but it might be your thing. Probably worth a read if you're really super specifically into Dionysus.
March 6, 2014
Dionysus is the Lord of Frenzy, well actually a whole more than that. I realize that when I say Dionysus people tend to think of wine and vines, but that is only part of it. This wonder and informative book by Vicki Bramshaw opened up a whole new vista.
The origins of Dionysus seem to stem from the island of Crete, where there was a horned God called Zagrreuss. Yet Dionysus has another origin coming from Thrace, and this horned god was called Sabazios. In fact there are many gods who fed into the Dionysus current and included amongst those are Osiris and Tammuzi, of Babylon.
Dionysus is a true Lord of the Hunt, he is associated with animals and with hunting. In fact he is an eater of raw flesh. Yet he is also vegetarian. Dionysus was a true liminal god who embraced opposites.
According to Greek legend Dionysus was born from an illicit affair between Persephone and Zeuss. Zeuss took the form of a snake and then seduced her in a cave. From this union Dionysus was born. Hera in her jealousy wanted Dionysus destroyed. So she hired some Titans to do the job. They distracted him with a mirror and got his lightning bolts from him. They killed him and devoured him. Zeuss in his anger zapped them with a lightning bolt and from their ashes created man kind and he ate Dionysus’s heart. This represent one of the phases of Dionysus. The Zagreuss Dionysus from Crete who is associated with wine and mead is the Dionysus of the underworld. He brings winters relief from the summer’s scorching sun.
As things progressed Dionysus was reborn from a mortal woman named Semele. Hera in her jealousy convinced her to ask Zeuss if she could see him in real form. Zeuss’s real form was lighting and this quick view burned Semele to ash. Zeus then took Dionysus and put him in his thigh. Dionysus’s second birth corresponded to Sabazios or bromios. This was the hunter god who went into a frenzy and would devour raw flesh. Hew was the Lord of the Summer Sun.
Dionysus’s final form was that of Iachen, this too has some precedence in Egypt and Thrace. Dionysus goes down to the underworld to rescue Ariadne from death. He does so and ascends to Heaven.
Dionysus was a god of physical passions, mead, wine, hunting , protection and liberation. He was the only God of the Greek pantheon who could possess his follower. Often times they held their rights outside of the city and the government was not always favorable toward them. Dionysus fought many battle. Associated with Dionysus are pine, goats, bulls, grapes honey, snakes, panther and figs. This review is only the tip of the iceburg. Book is loaded with tons of information on Dionysus.
November 25, 2024
This is my read-during-the-school-day book (as opposed to my read-before-bed book) and it's doing delightful things to the eager little maenad in the depths of my psyche. No one has asked me "What are you reading?" yet, but I have no qualms about reading ths in public because everyone already knows that a) religious ecstasy is my only drug of choice and b) I'm hella Pagan. I just love this book: erudite, informative, and full of little gems for my cultus. Also oddly insightful into my Catholic upbringing even though its references to Christianity are merely tangential. It's giving me a craving for Dionysian ritual in the worst way. Send help.
May 17, 2018
Thoroughly Researched
This is a thoroughly researched book on the god of epiphanies. It comes via a pagan vein but will prove useful to any and all interested in Dionysus. With an extensive bibliography and footnotes it is a worthy read indeed
This is a thoroughly researched book on the god of epiphanies. It comes via a pagan vein but will prove useful to any and all interested in Dionysus. With an extensive bibliography and footnotes it is a worthy read indeed
July 22, 2021
Je dois bien avouer que je n'ai pas grand chose à ajouter sur tous les avis qui ont été prononcés ici. Je suis heureuse d'avoir trouvé une lecture grand public à conseiller aux personnes qui me posent des questions sur lui. Vikki a su s'éloigner des sempiternels clichés et montrer ses différentes facettes. Je pense que celui qui est proche de lui, trouvera la lecture agréable et fluide, mais sera un peu plus complexe pour celui qui n'a aucune notion que Dionysos aborde.
Cela étant je recommande chaudement cet ouvrage et je suis heureuse de l'avoir lu en français.
Cela étant je recommande chaudement cet ouvrage et je suis heureuse de l'avoir lu en français.
May 11, 2024
Ottima lettura per chi fosse interessato ad approfondire il culto di Dioniso. Risulta essere una lettura piacevole, con fonti e supporti storici. Certo, risente delle influenze religiose dell'autrice e non è da considerarsi un testo accademico. Resta, ugualmente, un testo che vale la pena avere se si vuole considerare anche un approccio moderno e di pratica neopagana.
May 23, 2025
Dionysos is one of the most fascinating gods in Ancient Greek religion, and i am ready to join the Maenads in their madness! if you see me in the wilderness performing orgiastic rites and eating raw meat, please mind your business.
September 28, 2024
Great study of this liminal god, crossing boundaries between life and death, light and dark, male and female. Rich with symbolism and ritual.
August 6, 2017
I borrowed this through the Kindle lender's library.
I've been on a mythology kick lately. DIONYSOS Exciter to Frenzy is a great work on not only the mythos of the Greek god Dionysos, but also the Dionysus mystery cult, the Eleusinian mysteries, and what the book refers to as the Dionysian current. Anyone familiar with Sorita D'Este's books and anthologies will find this one to be along the same lines and very well put together.
Anyone coming into this book thinking Dionysos is simply a god of wine and ecstasy has another thing coming. The book reveals that the god as dual aspects as both a fertility or green god and a chthonic or underworld deity also. It was interesting that Dionysos's underworld form is associated with the summer months and that his fertile green "meek and mild" form is associated with the winter months. In modern paganism and with other deities the inverse would be assumed. There is much discussion on the myths of Dionysus and his dualistic nature discussed through his balanced male and female or androgynous form. He's also described as both a light and dark deity who is as much a representation of life as in death. As a demigod, his myths reveal him as being 1/2 human 1/2 god (another dualistic feature).
His myths also describe him as having a cyclical nature, dying and being reborn and then dying to be reborn again over and over again. There also is some discussion on the similarities between the Dionysian myth and the myths of Jesus Christ, Lucifer, Shiva and Osiris. Interesting stuff.
Beliefs and practices within the cult of Dionysos are also introduced. The frenzied Monads (priestesses of Dionysos) and their ecstatic borderline animalistic rites. It's a belief system that is very connected to shamanic practices, divinatory rites and oracles, and trance work through the ingestion of wine and other substances, but also through sex and dancing as well.
I really learned a hell of a lot about not only Dionysus but also about ancient Greek life and religious practices as well. I found the content to be rather interesting! There were so many points touched upon in this book. I think anyone interested in the Dionysus myth, Greek mythology, and ancient Greek religious practices should be able to take something away from this book. I also found it for the most part to be minimally dry and actually interesting. It really was good non-fiction summer read.
I've been on a mythology kick lately. DIONYSOS Exciter to Frenzy is a great work on not only the mythos of the Greek god Dionysos, but also the Dionysus mystery cult, the Eleusinian mysteries, and what the book refers to as the Dionysian current. Anyone familiar with Sorita D'Este's books and anthologies will find this one to be along the same lines and very well put together.
Anyone coming into this book thinking Dionysos is simply a god of wine and ecstasy has another thing coming. The book reveals that the god as dual aspects as both a fertility or green god and a chthonic or underworld deity also. It was interesting that Dionysos's underworld form is associated with the summer months and that his fertile green "meek and mild" form is associated with the winter months. In modern paganism and with other deities the inverse would be assumed. There is much discussion on the myths of Dionysus and his dualistic nature discussed through his balanced male and female or androgynous form. He's also described as both a light and dark deity who is as much a representation of life as in death. As a demigod, his myths reveal him as being 1/2 human 1/2 god (another dualistic feature).
His myths also describe him as having a cyclical nature, dying and being reborn and then dying to be reborn again over and over again. There also is some discussion on the similarities between the Dionysian myth and the myths of Jesus Christ, Lucifer, Shiva and Osiris. Interesting stuff.
Beliefs and practices within the cult of Dionysos are also introduced. The frenzied Monads (priestesses of Dionysos) and their ecstatic borderline animalistic rites. It's a belief system that is very connected to shamanic practices, divinatory rites and oracles, and trance work through the ingestion of wine and other substances, but also through sex and dancing as well.
I really learned a hell of a lot about not only Dionysus but also about ancient Greek life and religious practices as well. I found the content to be rather interesting! There were so many points touched upon in this book. I think anyone interested in the Dionysus myth, Greek mythology, and ancient Greek religious practices should be able to take something away from this book. I also found it for the most part to be minimally dry and actually interesting. It really was good non-fiction summer read.
December 23, 2015
Very detailed information
There is a lot of information in this book about Dionysus and how he was worshipped in the ancient world. I found what I read here to be very interesting. I was less interested in the worship part of the book, but I still found it to be worth reading. The author did a lot of research and I found her writing style to be easy to read.
My only issue with this book is I would not use this as a starting point for those interested in reading more about the Greek god of wine. It is still a good read, though.
There is a lot of information in this book about Dionysus and how he was worshipped in the ancient world. I found what I read here to be very interesting. I was less interested in the worship part of the book, but I still found it to be worth reading. The author did a lot of research and I found her writing style to be easy to read.
My only issue with this book is I would not use this as a starting point for those interested in reading more about the Greek god of wine. It is still a good read, though.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews