Again on Dionysus and the snakes: myths and rites

Authors

  • Ana Isabel Jiménez San Cristóbal
Keywords: Snakes, Dionysus, Orphism, cults, rites, myths

Abstract

The aim of the article is to show the relevance of snakes and their link with Dionysus in Orphic myths and rites from Classical to Imperial times. The god is linked to snakes before his birth, because his father Zeus is metamorphosed into a snake in order to join Persephone. This myth is linked to a rite, in which a snake slid on initiates’ lap, probably in order to identify the god with the initiate. In certain rituals snakes, probably real, were kept in kists and winnows and were shaken in processions. In the Orphic late tales, Time-Herakles and Fanes are snaky creatures that confirm the relevance of the snakes in Orphism.

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Published
09-02-2016
How to Cite
Jiménez San Cristóbal, A. I. (2016). Again on Dionysus and the snakes: myths and rites. Myrtia, 30, 167–184. Retrieved from https://revistas.um.es/myrtia/article/view/249991
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Section
Artículos