Although you might not be able to tell during the duration of Hades, Dionysus is much more than just a party animal. It's definitely kind of his main thing, but he's so much aside from that.

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Dionysus was associated with wine, revelry, religion, and too much else to realistically list. His Boons in the game mostly revolve around hitting enemies with a status effect known as Hangover, slowing and damaging them over time. But who is he outside of the lore of the game? More than just a divine playboy, or is that really most of what he represented to the Greek people?

10 In Myth, He Could Be Zagreus

Zagreus from Hades with his sword

While the lore of the game is sure to tell us that Zagreus is the offspring of Hades and Persephone, (although he had spent most of his life under the assumption he was the son of Nyx) there was more to the story in Ancient Greece. Specifically, in a later niche religion known as Orphism, Zagreus dies at one point and comes back as another being known as Dionysus, making the story presented in the game just a little bit muddier than one might assume.

9 He's Been Resurrected

The Death screen from Hades

When Dionysus is mentioned in Hades, there's no mention of his other lifetimes. In traditional mythology, Dionysus actually lived multiple times as multiple different people. While it totally makes sense to portray both Zagreus and Dionysus at once in the game, it still feels odd. Time in mythology isn't necessarily completely linear, but it's still strange to see the same being in different skin represented talking to each other for the sake of showing us all 12 Olympians.

8 He's Also A God Of Madness

A greek statue of Dionysus

Dionysus is a complicated God with a complicated history, and as such, there's a lot that goes into the areas of experience he presides over. His boons are a hint at this. One of the more complicated topics he's related to is madness.

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It's likely that this is because of his relationship with alcohol. Obviously, alcohol is a very divisive substance. Alcohol can make people feel relaxed, or it can take an extreme toll on their personal lives. He's also heavily associated with religious ecstasy and mystical experience.

7 He's The Only Olympian With A Mortal Mother

A painting of Semele, mother of Dionysus in greek myth

There are some Olympians that are well-known for their lineages. Hermes for example was born of Maia, who isn't actually a God, but a child of the Titans. This also applies to Dionysus, but in a different way than might be expected. Dionysus' mother was a mortal, meaning that technically, he's only a demigod. This would change when the Gods realized how much they loved wine, and he achieved apotheosis as a result.

6 He's One Of The Few Gods Who's Kind Towards Humans

A painting of Dionysus

Most of the Olympians don't really care for mortals outside of the fact that they can provide things to them. Sometimes humans also interfere in the lives of the Gods, like when demigods make it their business to cheat death. Other times, Gods mate with humans. That being said, some Olympians like Dionysus, Hermes, and Aphrodite, make it their business to interfere in the world of mankind. Luckily for us humans, Dionysus is beneficial to humanity, leading to widespread worship in the cults of ancient Greece.

5 He Was Worshipped In One Of The Most Important Greek Rituals

The Eleusinian Mysteries depicted on a greek pot

The actual religious practice of the ancient Greeks is a bit of a mystery to modern historians. We know beyond the shadow of a doubt that most Olympians had cities that considered them their patrons, prioritizing their worship above others.

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When it comes to Dionysus and Orphism, the relationship with humans extends into mystery cults, which were occult religions. The most prevalent of these was the Mysteries of Eleusis, a recreation of Dionysus' resurrection which probably involved hallucinogens. Pythagoras was a known initiate.

4 He's A Patron Of Outsiders

A statue of Dionysus holding grapes

With all of the subjects that Dionysus had dominion over, it's very difficult to tell who exactly he favored most. We can, however, say for certain, that outsiders were among them. Given his priority for parties, hedonism, and drunkenness, of course, he attracted people on the fringes of society. While his worship was widespread, being one of the most venerated gods in history, everyone was welcomed to the party at the end of the day.

3 He's Part Of The Reason We Have Theater Today

Ceramic theater masks from Greece

One of the most important ancient Greek comedies was called The Frogs and was written by Aristophanes. This play recounted the descent that Dionysus made into the underworld.

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His influence on theater goes much further than this, however, since he's a patron of the theater. Dionysus is most commonly associated with comedies, which weren't necessarily funny but had a happy ending. He's also associated with tragedies to a lesser degree.

2 He Wields A Cool Wand

Dionysus depicted with the Thyrsus, his scepter

Just like any other Olympian, Dionysus has a cool artifact that he's most frequently depicted with. In his case, it's a wand or scepter with a host of magical powers. This weapon, known as the Thrysus, is covered in ivy and topped with a pinecone. The weapon carried these adornments to hide its true identity as a spear, which was tipped with a point that induced madness.

1 His Wife Helped Slay The Minotaur

A mosaic of Theseus slaying the minotaur

Dionysus doesn't really have many consorts, however, he has had many lovers over the course of his existence. Dionysus' main squeeze, was a Goddess known as Ariadne. She's the daughter of Minos and Pasiphae, and as a result, the granddaughter of Zeus. Her main claim to fame outside of Godhood comes from her relationship with Theseus, her ex. She laid a string of thread from the center to the exit of the labyrinth for him to follow when he was to be sacrificed to the Bull of Minos, a minotaur, which he then slew.

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