What is Dionysus best known for?

Dionysus is best known for being the Greek god of wine.

What is the connection between Dionysos and Greek theatre?

Dionysos was perhaps the origin of Greek theatre since his worshippers were taken over by a Dionysian frenzy of dancing and merriment to such a degree that they transcended themselves just as actors do playing a role. Priests of Dionysos were given seats of honour in Greek theatres

Dionysos Timeline

Definition

Dionysos (Roman name: Bacchus, also known as Dionysus) was the ancient Greek god of wine, merriment, and theatre. Being the bad boy of Mt. Olympus, Dionysus was perhaps the most colourful of the Olympian Gods.

More about: Dionysos

Timeline

c. 1350 BCE
First evidence of a cult to Dionysos in Mycenaean culture.
700 BCE - 600 BCE
Temples are built in honour of Apollo, Demeter and Dionysos on the island of Naxos.
600 BCE - 550 BCE
The Dionysia becomes a major Athenian festival in honour of Dionysos.
600 BCE - 300 BCE
Dionysos appears on the coins of Naxos, Mende and various other Greek city states.
447 BCE - 432 BCE
The east pediment of the Parthenon includes a reclining statue of Dionysos.
c. 405 BCE
Euripides in The Bacchai has Dionysos tell us how the tympanon was invented by him and his Mother Goddess, Rhea.
c. 330 BCE
Dionysos is represented as an infant in the arm of the Hermes of Praxiteles statue.
c. 150 CE - c. 200 CE
A small temple dedicated to Dionysos is built at Dion.
c. 400 CE
Nonnus writes the Dionysiaca, which tells the life of Dionysos. At 48 books and 20,426 lines it is the longest surviving poem from Greco-Roman antiquity.