Essay/Term paper: Contrasting apollo and dionysus

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Greek Mythology

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..."