Divine Inebriation
- music
-
exhibition
An encounter with Bacchus, the Roman counterpart of the Greek god Dionysus, one of the most complex deities of the Olympian pantheon.
Known primarily as the god of wine, Caravaggio's Bacchus becomes the Western iconographic reference: a languid young man crowned with vine leaves holding a glass of wine in hand. Naturally, the character is associated with festivity, excess, and inebriation.
However, this deity is far more complex, much like the drink with which he is associated. Like wine, Bacchus embodies ecstasy and self-abandon, but his worship can lead to inebriation and loss of control. It is also for this reason that he is known as the father of dramatic arts, with theater allowing one to assume another persona.
The cult of Dionysus or Bacchus differs greatly from those of "classic" deities, combining public ceremonies and secret initiations, suggesting origins outside the Greek world. Dionysus appears as early as the 13th century BC on Mycenaean tablets. His dual birth, mortal mother, and close relationship with the earth are traits of several gods worshipped in the ancient Mediterranean world, stemming from primitive beliefs mainly based on the elements. His familiarity with Pan or Satyrs testifies to his close link with nature.
His antiquity, complexity, and various aspects thus cannot reduce him to the drunk man of modern and contemporary depictions, much less a mere advertisement for wine. Nonetheless, it is interesting to note that he remains very present in the mind and iconography.
Where does it take place?
Musée de la Tour au puce
Cour du Château
57100 Thionville
France
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