Saturday, July 12, 2014

MYKONOS: Dionysus Lives Here.


How many of you ever heard of Dionysus?  Perhaps you know him by his Roman name, Bacchus.  Check Wikipedia, it will tell you Dionysus is Greek mythology’s god of the grape harvest, winemaking, wine, ritual madness, and ecstasy.  In other words, he’s the original party animal. 


Greek legends report on Dionysus’ mythical carryings on as a son of Zeus, and ancient historians tell of festivals held in his honor starting around the 6th and 5th Centuries BCE. Those Dionysia festivals took place twice a year, once around the vernal equinox (March-April) in Athens during its busiest time (City Dionysia), and again around the winter solstice (December-January) in the wine harvest regions (Rural Dionysia).  The festivals generally involved dramatic presentations, feasting, processions of carried and pulled phalluses (Wikipedia’s description, not mine), and drunken revelry in the streets. 

Dionysus

Dionysus’ origins are uncertain and he’s often depicted as a naked or half-naked androgynous youth possessing minions of “wild female followers” and “bearded satyrs with erect penises.”

This week I had an epiphany: That guy Dionysus must have a summerhouse on Mykonos.


For ninety days (mid-June to mid-September) this place is all about paying homage to him.  And paying is the operative word.  Think NYC prices with euro signs in place of dollar signs. But that’s old news.  Besides, a 24/7 party atmosphere lures those willing to pay for the experience.  And they come in droves, not wincing at 1000 euro per night hotel rooms or 10,000 euros per day and higher priced villas.  Yes, there are more reasonable accommodations available, but virtually all come here driven to be part of the buzz generated by the glitz of a money’s-no-object summer time attitude reflected in the phrase emblazoned across the top-selling souvenir t-shirt on Mykonos: MYKONOS FUCKS IBIZA.


Yes, Dionysus has brought prosperity to Mykonos.  One could even argue Dionysus is now the island’s patron.  He’s brought them money, and more money, and even more money. And all he’s asked in return is a bit of respect for the practice of his traditions.

And so his followers party as they wish, their vices regarded as holiday indulgences, and the rules they live by back home suspended.  In summer, all Mykonos now caters to the god Dionysus and his followers. 

Come September the visitors will leave, the off-islanders who come here only to profit off the island’s summer ecstasy will be gone...leaving Mykonos to the Mykonians to clean up and ready for the prayed for return of great god Dionysus and his followers.

By Mark Cross

But ye who place your island in the hands of Dionysus beware, for in Greek mythology Dionysus was a dying god, one torn to pieces by Titans who lured him with toys.

And for those who might claim his pieces were picked up, stitched together, and brought back to life, I have it on good authority the resurrection was a long and painful process. 


Jeff—Saturday

11 comments:

  1. Ooh, ooh! [waving hand in air] Me! Me! I know who Dionysus is! I've read a lot of Greek mythology, and I do have a B.S. degree in Art after all (no, Jeff, not THAT "B.S.", I was in engineering before art, so had LOTS of math/science courses under my belt that could be used as ... oh, never mind).

    But sheesh, you're a real downer, man! You'd be perfect for playing the part of the soothsayer in "Julius Caesar."

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    1. Ah yes, dear Everett, once again you hit upon the work that inspired my approach. And to paraphrase the particular line that did indeed bring on the deed, "I come to praise my berry, not to seize it."

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  2. So, the other saying, "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts", which didn't seem to apply in this case, is actually quite relevant when the gift of revelry costs in the thousands during midsummer nights. Fine for those of the herd mentality, but it changes the dynamic of Mykonos in ways we'd never dreamed of. Now, some nights can be of the nightmare variety, due to the "I'm paying good money so I'll do whatever I want, whenever I want" mentality. Let the next six weeks pass quickly, so Mykonos can return to the simple beauty that September brings!

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    1. And here I thought a few days in orange grove country would sweeten you up. Hurry back, Jody, the spirits miss you...both alcoholic and non.

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  3. Hi Jeff, Thank you for the blog. I'm going to suggest that a variation of that top selling T shirt might do for our Commonwealth games uniform...

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    1. It can't hurt...well, maybe for a little while.

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  4. Still getting over the phrase 'pulled penises'. Gives a new twist to pulled pork, currently taking UK restaurants by storm... Riveting article - the Ancient Greek traditions thrumming beneath the surface and drawing the crowds? The quiet relieved tidy-up. Could be a novel in it. Or a series? Already looking forward to annual summer trip to the marginally less Dionysian island of Corfu..

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  5. Still getting over the phrase 'pulled penises'. Gives a new twist to pulled pork, currently taking UK restaurants by storm... Riveting article - the Ancient Greek traditions thrumming beneath the surface and drawing the crowds? The quiet relieved tidy-up. Could be a novel in it. Or a series? Already looking forward to annual summer trip to the marginally less Dionysian island of Corfu...

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  6. Yep, Tom, "pulled penises" are hard to grasp in everyday vernacular, but I think we should leave this subject and other thrumming crowd pleasers to concentrate on wishing you and yours, kalo taxidhi on your upcoming trip to Corfu, a crown jewel of the Ionian. Enjoy, my friend.

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  7. Quite right, Jeffrey. And thank you. Can't wait to hit Corfu in early August. Suspect it won't quite be as idyllic as it used to be with two toddlers, but as long as we have have the entire Disney canon downloaded we remain optimistic!

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    1. I think anywhere in Greece the first weeks of August requires canon, Tinkerbell, and Captain Hook. BUT having said that, I'm sure you...and certainly the toddlers...will have a wonderful summer to remember. Enjoy, my friend.

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