The gate of the year

Statue representing Dionysus in the shape of a phallus, erected on the Island of Delos around 300 B.C. These representations of Dionysus show how the god, who led his own followers in a vortex of elation, of sensual abandonment and ecstatic frenzy, through the wine, the dance and music, was identified with the fertilizing energy which manifests itself in the multifarious aspects of life. Dionysus was associated with spontaneous vegetation, as the god of the trees (Dendrítes), of the fruits and the flowers. He was furthermore associated with agriculture as the god of the grapes and of wine. The god appeared under multiple aspects: as a child, as a boy, as adult man, and had the power to transform himself taking the shape of different animals. Phallomorphic images of Dionysus were brought in procession, at Athens, during the Rural Dionysia (taking place in December-January) and during the Great Dionysia (March-April). Both these festivals were unrestrained and lively festivities, during which the beginning of the new season was celebrated and wishes were made for a good harvest.

[Source: http://library.artstor.org/library/]




Male Symbols

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Statue representing Dionysus in the shape of a phallus, erected on the Island of Delos around 300 B.C. These representations of Dionysus show how the god, who led his own followers in a vortex of elation, of sensual abandonment and ecstatic frenzy, through the wine, the dance and music, was identified with the fertilizing energy which manifests itself in the multifarious aspects of life. Dionysus was associated with spontaneous vegetation, as the god of the trees (Dendrítes), of the fruits and the flowers. He was furthermore associated with agriculture as the god of the grapes and of wine. The god appeared under multiple aspects: as a child, as a boy, as adult man, and had the power to transform himself taking the shape of different animals. Phallomorphic images of Dionysus were brought in procession, at Athens, during the Rural Dionysia (taking place in December-January) and during the Great Dionysia (March-April). Both these festivals were unrestrained and lively festivities, during which the beginning of the new season was celebrated and wishes were made for a good harvest. [Source: http://library.artstor.org/library/]