Thirsty Thyrsus

A postmodern dithyramb

The Western world is well acquainted with Dionysus, the Greek god of revelry, sexual ecstasy, and wine. Though there are of course several rites and symbols associated with that deity’s cult that are probably only familiar to scholars of classical studies and then again to those initiated into his mysteries. Today we’ll delve a bit deeper into a duo of these. The first is the dithyramb, which Dictionary.com defines thus:

(noun)

A Greek choral song or chant of vehement or wild character and of usually irregular form, originally in honor of Dionysus or Bacchus.

Any poem or other composition having similar characteristics, as an impassioned or exalted theme or irregular form.

Any wildly enthusiastic speech or writing.

So there we have our ‘format’. Staying on track, our focal topic will be the Dionysian thyrsus. Defined as such:

(noun)

A staff tipped with a pine cone and sometimes twined with ivy and vine branches, borne by Dionysus and his votaries.

Bearing those definitions in mind, Obsidian Eagle presents…

Thirsty Thyrsus

Hey ἙPMH∑ [Hermes]!

Drop the caduceus

Pick up brother Bacchus

Bartender please beer us

It’s time to get raucous

Err day 365 we invite:

ABPAΞA∑ [Abraxas]

&

MEIΘPA∑ [Mithras]

Comboozelated cathexis

From dawn ’til the sun sets

Rocking riffs off rad axes

None on par with our tactics

Death is sure as are taxes

Drain thy goblet and flex thus:

Assemble attention at solar plexus

Dionysian Will, to Apollonian Nexus!

In closing, a toast:

Hail Evius, Zagreus, Bromius, Iacchos, Bacchus, Dithyrambus — Dionysus — Evohe!

Most of the above are names for the deity given by Euripides in his stage play, The Bacchæ.

Hear this poem recited by the author (with kitschy background music):

Further Readings