Bacchus — Caravaggio
A small glimpse of the most famous representation of the Greek god.
He had a mischievous look, cup in hand, crown of multicolored leaves on his head, loose clothing, fruits, and wine around. Caravaggio’s Bacchus is the paradigm of the most mischievous mythological character of the whole pantheon of Greek gods.
Known to the Greeks as Dionysus (Dionysos), he is part of the famous group of gods called Olympians. His parents are Zeus and Semele, although there are other versions in which his father is still Zeus. His mother is Persephone (daughter of Demeter and Zeus! and wife of Hades).
Bacchus is considered the god of wine and fertility. Most ancient sources seem to agree that Greek mythology assimilated the god from a foreign origin.
He used to wander here and there, accompanied by his entourage (the aunt and uncle formed by the maenads) and alleviated mortals’ worries through pleasures such as wine or orgies.
Dionysus was also the patron of agriculture and theater. Several myths relate to his origin, the best known being his upbringing by the nymph Nyssa or the myth of his resurrection after being killed by the Titans.
After conquering the Greeks, the Romans renamed him Bacchus because of the frenzy he induced in those who worshipped…
