Greek god of vegetation, viticulture and ecstasy or intoxication. The oldest reference to Dionysus dates back to the 13th century B.C. His female companions were the Maenads. He was also called Bromios (noisier) or Bakchos (shouter, shouting) because of the noise his entourage made. The name Bacchus, commonly used in Roman mythology, is derived from this. He is usually depicted with ivy or vine tendrils and grapes. His outward attributes are the thyrsos staff entwined with ivy and vines as a symbol of fertility and the kantharos (drinking vessel for wine), on which Dionsysus is depicted with a satyr (left) and in conversation with Hermes, the messenger of the gods (right). Dionysus is holding a kantharos in his right hand.
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Markus J. Eser
Weinakademiker und Herausgeber „Der Weinkalender“