Dionysus is the ancient Greek god of wine, wine cups, wineskins, grapes and fertility. He inspires ritual madness, joyful worship, ecstasy, carnivals and celebration. He is sometimes included as one of the twelve Olympians. He was also known as Bacchus, the name adopted and used by the Romans to describe the frenzy he induced, bakkheia. In addition to wine-making, he is the patron deity of agriculture and the theater. Hailed as an Asiatic foreigner, he was thought to have had strong ties to the East and to Ethiopia in the South. He was also known as the Liberator, freeing one from one's normal self, by madness, ecstasy or wine. The divine mission of Dionysus was to mingle the music of the aulos and to bring an end to care and worry. Scholars have discussed Dionysus' relationship to the "cult of the souls" and his ability to preside over communication between the living and the dead.
In Greek mythology, Dionysus is made out to be a son of Zeus and the mortal Semele. He is described as being womanly or "man-womanish." The retinue of Dionysus was called the thiasus and was chiefly composed of maenads and satyrs. Dionysus is a god of mystery religious rites. One of the most famous mystery religions was the Eleusinian Mysteries, in which Dionysus may have had a minor role. In the Thracian Mysteries, he wears the bassaris or fox-skin, symbolizing new life. His own rites, the Dionysian Mysteries, practiced by maenads and others, were the most secret of all. Many scholars believe that Dionysus is a syncretism of a local Greek nature deity and a more powerful god from Thrace or Phrygia such as Sabazios or Zalmoxis.
The garland and the pinecone thyrsus are Dionysus' traditional symbols while the colorful pattern on his entire body can be interpreted in two ways. The first one is the body paint which symbolizes the revelry of Bacchanalia (wine festival). The other thing that links to that body paint is the colorful patterns of all kinds of alcohol when magnified under a microscope.
Profile[]
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne[]
"The Greek god of wine and orgies. He had two births. When his mother died while pregnant with him, Zeus took the premature infant and let him mature to proper birth in his thigh."
"The Greek god of wine and theater. He had two births. He was originally a god of life protecting the mountains of Thrace. He taught humans how to make wine."
—Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey compendium
Dionysus is a demon that can only be acquired through fusion accidents which can be helped along with a Sub App that makes Fusion Accidents occur with 100% certainty, developed after the Black Box retrieval IIEX Mission. He can be acquired easier through taking advantage of the Zealot Summons Sub App.
Dionysus makes an NPC appearance in Sector Bootes who initiates the EX Mission, Death distilled. He asks the protagonist to retrieve a feather from a Zhen to mix into a poisonous wine. Despite the wine's nature he claims that, as a god, he cannot be affected by such wine and desires a taste. After retrieving a Zhen feather, Dionysus remarks lamentably that he cannot share such wine with the protagonist and goes off to find a suitable meal to compliment the newly made wine.
Shin Megami Tensei IV[]
A demon faced in the Challenge Quest "The Great Drunkenness," given by Nozomi. Dionysus is found in the Ginza Shopping District. Surprised that a man was intrigued by his wine, he offers his fellow oenophilist a chance to drink it in exchange for his life. Defeating him earns the Maenad's Wine for the quest.
"The Greek god of wine and theater. He had two births. Myth tells that Zeus took the premature Dionysus from his dying mother, Semele, and allowed him to mature inside his thigh so that the underdeveloped god might have a proper birth."
—Shin Megami Tensei V lore
Dionysus can be found in Ginza where his lifestyle gets him into conflict with Black Frost, who wants to steal his alcohol to sell in clubs he has planned. If the protagonist speaks to Dionysus, he will explain that Black Frost had been proclaiming himself as the new emperor of Ginza and trying to steal his alcohol. Supporting Dionysus will begin the quest "A Sobering Standoff" and request the protagonist deal with the troublemaker. Once Black Frost has been driven out of the area, Dionysus will join their party, provided that he isn't in it and space is avaliable.
Soul Hackers 2[]
"The Greek god of wine and theater. He had two births. Myth tells that Zeus took the premature Dionysus from his dying mother, Semele, and allowed him to mature inside his thigh so that the underdeveloped god might have a proper birth."
—Soul Hackers 2 demon info
Dionysus appears as a boss in Saizo's Soul Matrix 1F. Defeating him will unlocked him for fusion at the Cirque du Goumaden once Ringo can control level 31 demons. Dionysus can be summoned through a special fusion of Mad Gasser and Turbo-Granny.
Persona 5[]
"The Greek god of wine and theater. He was originally a god of life protecting the mountains of Thrace. He taught humans how to make wine."
Dionysus is now the seventh Persona of the Councillor Arcana and now appears as a shadow in Maruki's Palace. His level was buffed from 61 to 71, he is now immune to Bless and Curse skills, and all of his skills except for Thermopylae, Ailment Boost, and Amrita Shower have been replaced. When itemized through Electric Chair execution, Dionysus will now yield a Maziodyne Skill Card. During a fusion alarm, Dionysus will yield a Thunder Reign Skill Card instead.
A Dionysus appears alongside a Chimera as a mini boss in Maruki's Palace, being required to beat in order to obtain the Personnel ID and gain access to the warehouse.
Devil Survivor 2 Record Breaker[]
"The Greek god of wine and theater. He was fervently worshipped by female mystery cults. He was originally a god of life protecting the mountains of Thrace. He taught humans how to make wine."
—Devil Survivor 2 Record Breaker compendium
Dionysius is one of the first demons contracted by the party at the start of the Triangulum Arc of the game, the others being Sarasvati and Bai Suzhen. He is now the lowest-leveled and earliest-available member of the Omega race in the game.
Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2[]
"The Greek god of wine, theater and fertility. Also known as Bacchus, he was fervently worshiped by women. He is known for his teachings of grape harvesting, winemaking and the widespread teachings of the cult of Dionysus."