Meeting Bacchus, the Roman derivative of the Greek god Dionysos, one of the most complex deities of the Olympian pantheon. Mostly known as the god of wine, Caravaggio's Bacchus becomes the Western iconographic reference: a languid young man crowned with vine leaves holding a glass of wine. Naturally, the character is associated with celebration, excess, and intoxication. Yet, this deity is far more complex, much like the drink with which it is associated. Like wine, Bacchus embodies ecstasy and self-abandonment, though his cult can lead to drunkenness and loss of control. This is also why he is called the father of dramatic arts, as theater allows one to assume another personality. The cult of Dionysos or Bacchus differs greatly from that of "classical" deities, mixing public ceremonies with secret initiations, suggesting origins outside the Greek world. However, Dionysos appears as early as the 13th century BCE on Mycenaean tablets. His double birth, mortal mother, and close ties with the earth are characteristic of several gods worshipped in the ancient Mediterranean world, stemming from primitive beliefs largely based on the elements. His closeness to Pan or the Satyrs confirms his strong link with nature. His antiquity, complexity, and various facets thus cannot reduce him to the drunken man of modern and contemporary representations, let alone to a mere advertisement for wine. However, it is interesting to note that he is still very present in minds and iconography.
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Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 2 PM to 6 PM. Free entrance. Exceptional closure on December 24 and 31 at 4:30 PM. Closed on December 25, 26 and January 1.
Automatically translated from French.
Where does it take place?
Puzzle - Media Thionville
1 place Malraux
57100 Thionville
France
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