Ancient and Modern – 5 September 2003

The pop singer Sir Mick Jagger thinks that the Greek god whom he most resembles is Dionysus. Oh dear! One wonders if Dionysus will be pleased when he discovers that the national treasure on earth whose voice keeps giving up (bless) has likened himself to the terrifying god of transformation on Olympus.

Dionysus had the cult-name Bakkhos, whence Latin Bacchus. He has four areas of interest. First and foremost he is god of wine and intoxication, though neither he nor his followers (maenads or bacchants) are ever depicted drinking (sorry, Sir Mick). This is because he was, second, god of ecstasy (mania), and no artificial stimulants are needed to experience that when the god is inside you (even sorrier). A feature of Dionysiac ecstasy is the tearing apart and consumption raw of living animals (yes, Sir Mick?); and his ubiquitous festivals feature revelry, cross-dressing, violence and obscenity, though Dionysus is never depicted with an erection (shurely shome mishtake there, Sir Mick).