Dionysus (Bacchus) was the god of wine and song. He was also affiliated with unpredictable or violent behavior. He wandered about teaching people how to tend to grapes and to make wine. He was the son of Zeus and Semele (a mortal). Dionysus was also a associated with resurrection and raised Zagreus from the dead. Dionysus always grew angry and punished people that forgot to worship him. The Greeks had a festival called Dionysia and the Romans had a festival called Bacchanalia. They both included wild behavior and drunkenness.

Dionysus grew up to be a wanderer. Once, he was spotted by pirates. He appeared to them as a rich young man. Thinking he was a king, they took him onto a ship hoping for ransom. As they tried to tie him up, the rope would not hold. Any place the rope touched Dionysus it fell apart. Dionysus, just sat there watching calmly while smiling. The pirates thought that could only be done by a god, so they thought they should free him. But the captain called them fools and set sail. The sail caught the wind, but the ship didn't move. The ship quickly became overgrown with vines that held it down. Then Dionysus changed into a lion and began to chase the crew. To escape, they leaped overboard and changed into dolphins. Only the crew member that thought he was a god, was left on the ship.

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