Translated by Catherine Proppe, August 18, 2015
45. Διονύσου Βασσαρέως Τριετηρικού.
To Dionysos Base-Flowing Triennially[1]
Ἐλθέ, μάκαρ Διόνυσε, πυρίσπορε, ταυρομέτωπε,
Come, blessed Dionysos, fire-seeded[2], bull-browed[3]
Βάσσαρε καὶ Βακχεῦ, πολυώνυμε, παντοδυνάστα,
Base-flowing[4] and rod-based[5], multi-realmed, all dynastic,
ὃς ξίφεσιν χαίρεις ἠδ' αἵματι Μαινάσι θ' ἁγναῖς,
Delighting in swordplay and blood mania divine, pure
εὐάζων κατ' Ὄλυμπον, ἐρίβρομε, μανικὲ Βάκχε,
Beautifully unconfined Olympian, raucous, manic Bacchos,
θυρσεγχής, βαρύμηνι, τετιμένε πᾶσι θεοῖσι
Thyrus-wielding, raging, revered by all Gods and Goddesses
καὶ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν, ὅσοι χθόνα ναιετάουσιν·
And mortal humans, by every one of earth’s inhabitants.
ἐλθέ, μάκαρ, σκιρτητά, φέρων πολὺ γῆθος ἅπασι.
Come blessed leaping dancer, bear a multitude of Ge’s gifts divine, every one.
[1] Triennial can mean three times a year, every three years, or every other year.
Some authorities cite four annual Dionysian festivals, one of which they designate as “rustic” which may mean it was not "officially" recognized.
“Four festivals were dedicated to Dionysos, from the beginning of Winter to the beginning of Spring:
-The rustic Dionysies, during the month of Poseidon (corresponding to our December),
-The Lenaea, during the month of Gamelion (January-February),
-The Anthesteria, during the month of Anthesterion (February-March)
-The Great Dionysia, during the month of Elaphebolion (March-April).”
http://www.cndp.fr/archive-musagora/dionysos/dionysosen/fetes.htm
[2] Dionysos’ father is Zeus, the immortal God of lightning: the spark of fire/spark of life.
[3] Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 21 : "The stars which outline the face [of the constellation Taurus] are called Hyades. These, Pherecydes the Athenian [mythographer C5th BCE] says, are the nurses of Liber [Dionysos] … they brought Liber [Dionysos] to Thebes and delivered him to Ino, and for this reason Jove [Zeus] expressed his thanks to them by putting them among the constellations." www.theoi.com
[4] Bassare/Bassaros (Βάσσαρε) is another name of Dionysos. Bas- (Βάσ-) is a prefix meaning base and sare (σαρε) literally means “synchronized arising flow.” Base-flowing may refer to Dionysos’ feminine nature.
[5] Bakcheu/Bacchos (Βακχεῦ) is another name of Dionysos. Bak- (Βακ-) is a prefix meaning “rod” or “staff” and xeu (χεῦ) literally means “foundation essence pure” and refers to things that are on the ground or that fall to the ground. Rod-based may refer to Dionysos’ masculine nature.
RSS Feed