Dionysus was one the most influential of the Greek Gods. Even though he didn't arrive in Greece until approximately 800 BC, the impact from his followers is still felt in the world we live in today. Dionysus was a demi-god meaning that he was only a half god, which makes his rise to Mount Olympus even more amazing. Dionysus represented everything that the people could relate with. He was looked upon as a god of Life bringing water and viability to plant, animal and man. Dionysus was also the lone God of Wine, which was a common drink in ancient Greece. Finally he was a god that could grant ecstasy or madness in reward or punishment. Due to these three concepts that Dionysus represented, he was considered to be a god of the people who was fimiliar with the lifestyle of man.

             To begin to learn how Dionysus affected the Classical Greeks one must first know of his origin. Dionysus was the offspring between Zeus, King of the Gods, and Semele, a princess of Thebes. Hera was jealous of Semele and convinced her to make Zeus show Semele his true form, only knowing that this would kill her and her baby. When Semele is burned to death Zeus saves his unborn son and transplants the fetus into his leg. Once born Dionysus was taken to Semele's sister, Ino the Queen of Orchomenus. To hide the child from Hera, Ino disguises him as a girl. Hera was not fooled, so to punish Ino she drove her to madness. Zeus changed Dionysus into a goat and sent him to live with the Nymphs in Nysa. It was Nysa where Dionysus learned of fertility and wine. When Hera found him she imposed the same madness on him as she did on Ino. Dionysus wandered the earth for many years in a state of insanity. He wandered until he met the Rhea, who cured him of his madness and made him the Olympian god he was destined to be. This brief history of the coming of Dionysus has a great effect on how he rules as a god.

             Dionysus, other than his famed title of God of Wine, was also a go of birth and rejuvenation for all life.