Greek Mythological Story of Dionysus and AriadneLearn the ancient myth of love between Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility, and Ariadne of Crete. Read the classic myth here!
Dionysus excelled at taking on different forms. He could change into a vicious animal with razor-sharp claws and teeth one moment, and his favourite shape, a lovely young man with shining clothing and expensive jewellery, the next. He had a great time changing his shape.
He was once spotted by several pirates while taking the shape of his favourite object. They believed they had found a valuable find - someone they could sell as a slave for a significant sum of money. They viciously laughed as they seized the god Dionysus, who they mistook for a young man, and hauled him away aboard their pirate ship. He was firmly fastened to the mast.
All of this was very humorous to Dionysus. If the rope hadn't been irritatingly rubbing against his flesh, he may have waited a little longer to see what these idiotic mortals would do next. With the aid of his enchanted abilities, Dionysus moved the rope. It landed at his feet in a heap.
One of the pirates let out a startled gasp. He had a strong hunch that he and the other pirates were in the wrong. This wasn't your typical human. If they did not soon bring the boy back to shore, things would not go well for them. The other pirates heard him beg them to turn the ship around. Yet instead of laughing at him, they fled into the water.
While the ship was in very deep water, Dionysus waited. Then, dense vines appeared out of nowhere to ensnare the ship. The shape of Dionysus changed into a lion. He barked and pounced on the frightened pirates. Other people jumped overboard to escape his teeth and claws. Suddenly, the pirate who had pleaded for his release was the only one still alive on board. That pirate would have been happy to jump off the ship with his friends, but for some reason, his feet remained firmly planted.
Is that the Naxos island? Dionysus looked forward and asked jokingly.
The pirate nodded, unable to speak due to fear.
Dionysus said, "You may drop me off there." The vines disintegrated. The captain was absent, and the ship sailed serenely in the direction of the island of Naxos.
Dionysus leapt deftly onto the seawall as they approached the island. He waved goodbye to the pirate and then magically propelled the ship out to sea. No one (apart from the pirate, of course) cared if the pirate could control the ship on his own or not.
Dionysus first beheld the lovely Ariadne there, on the island of Naxos. Ariadne (left behind by Theseus) spent her days curled up on the seawall gazing out to sea. She had been crying nonstop all day, and she was sound asleep. She was so stunning that she made him gasp. He patiently awaited Ariadne's eye-opening. She noticed a charming young man admiringly looking at her. Ariadne immediately felt better. She detailed to Dionysus her selfless attempts to save Theseus and the Athens children.
She sighed, "And look where it got me."
Dionysus responded, "You pitiful thing," with tremendous compassion. He promptly proposed marriage to the gorgeous young Ariadne.
Ariadne agreed to be his wife since she no longer felt abandoned or friendless and was thrilled to be appreciated by this handsome young man who was wealthy because of his attire.
Richard Strauss, a renowned composer, based his 20th-century opera Ariadne auf Naxos on the love story of Ariadne and Dionysus, who lived happily ever after.
