Contrasting Apollo

& Dionysus Essay, Research Paper

Contrasting Apollo & Dionysus

In Greek mythology, Apollo and Dionysus are nearly opposites of one

another, and as with many opposites, life would not operate just quite right

without both of them. They each played a specific role for the Greeks. They had

very different things associated with them.

Apollo was often associated with logic and the power of the mind. He was

basically in charge of the Work section of the people. Logic is something the

Greeks used often, and when they didn’t, things often happened for the worst. He

is also associated with intellect. The followers of Apollo would consist of

those who strongly believed in the things he was thought to control. These

people would believe in logic, they would believe in reason, and they would

also pay attention to the power of the human mind. Another thing Apollo is

associated with is music, so he would also be worshipped by music lovers.

Apollo is worshipped in religion to provide his followers with logical

thought and a good intellect. As for Greek thought, he was also very in control

of this. The Oracle at Delphi, mentioned in, but not only in, Sophocles’

Oedipus Rex. The Oracle was there to bestow knowledge from Apollo onto those who

came to it. Another reason people looked to Apollo was to help heal the sick and

the dying, because he is associated with medicine, probably because of his vast

knowledge.

Dionysus, on the other hand, represents the Play side of life. He is the

god of emotions, the god of wine, and also the god of fertility. Some things

attributed to Dionysus are the dithyrambs, or choral hymns, sung for him but the

people. This was how they praised him. Drama is also directly associated with

him. Being the god of wine and the god of fertility led to some very strange

things in situations where Dionysus prevailed over Apollo. Many drunken orgies

took place during this time.

The Dionysion followers might be thought of as all the people who

enjoyed wine, the people who attended and enjoyed the Festival of Dionysus

(leading to perhaps all current people who enjoy the drama), and to those who

prayed for fertility. The Greeks also acknowledged the existence of Dionysus as

much as they did the existence of Apollo, so everyone who worshipped them dually

would also be a follower. This means that Dionysus probably had just as large a

following as Apollo, of not more because of the social aspect of life.

The status of Dionysus for religion is that the is the god of fertility,

so the dithyrambs that were in honor of Dionysus were also a way of praying for

a good harvest or for many children. Like Osiris, he was reborn after dying, and

it is believed that these festivals may be linked to ceremonies that took place

in Egypt.

Most Greeks worshipped both Apollo and Dionysus. This acceptance of both

their existences brings about a balance of the two forces. It is interesting

that the Temple to Apollo is right next to the ruins of a Dionysion theater in

Ancient Greece. Also, Apollo was represented with music, and Dionysus with the

theater, and these two things go hand in hand. This dual worship is very similar

to the phrase, ?All work and no play…?