Dionysus
by CTCWeb Editors
Family
As one of the twelve main gods, Dionysus’ relatives and offspring appear in many main stream and well-known myths. Below are the beginnings of a chart of Dionysus’ family, including his children by various mortals and goddesses. Students should fill in the blanks to complete the chart. They can then use this chart to complete the next assignment of creating a family tree for the god.
|
Family Member
|
Relation
|
Text
|
| Zeus |
Father |
Aristophanes, Frogs, line 215 |
| Semele |
Mother |
Apollodorus 3.4.3 |
| Deianira by Althaea |
Daughter |
Apollodorus 1.8.1 |
| Phanus by _______ |
Son |
Apollodorus 1.9.16 |
| Philias by _______ |
Son |
Pausanias 2.12.4 |
| Staphylus by ______ |
Son |
Apollodorus 1.9.16 |
| Cremus by Ariadne |
Son |
Pausanias 1.3.1 |
| Cadmus |
Grandfather |
Homeric Hymn 7: To Dionysus, line 55 |
| Thoas by Ariadne |
Son |
Apollodorus, Epitome, 1.9 |
| Staphylus by Ariadne |
Son |
Apollodorus, Epitome, 1.9 |
| Oenopion by Ariadne |
Son |
Apollodorus, Epitome, 1.9 |
| Peparethus by Ariadne |
Son |
Apollodorus, Epitome, 1.9 |
Using the information from the Encyclopedia entry for Dionysus or from the above chart, student should create a family tree for Dionysus like the one below. Notice that separate trees may need to be created to include all the relevant family members. Student should devise their own symbols that denote: relation, unknown parentage, sex, etc.
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