Editing Dionysus (section)

==Parallels with Christianity==
{{Main|Dionysus in comparative mythology|Jesus Christ in comparative mythology}}
[[File:Hanging with Dionysian Figures MET DT11588.jpg|thumb|right|Hanging with Dionysian Figures from [[Antinopolis|Antinoöpolis]], fifth–seventh century ([[Metropolitan Museum of Art]])]]
[[File:Bacchus, Simeon Solomon.jpg|thumb|right|''Bacchus'' ([[Simeon Solomon]], 1867)]]
Some scholars of [[comparative mythology]] identify both Dionysus and Jesus with the [[Dying-and-rising deity|dying-and-rising god]] mythological [[archetype]].<ref name="moles">{{Cite journal |last=Moles |first=John |title=Jesus and Dionysus in "The Acts Of The Apostles" and early Christianity |journal=Hermathena |volume=180 |issue=180 |pages=65–104 |publisher=Trinity College Dublin |year=2006 |jstor=23041662 }}</ref> On the other hand, it has been noted that the details of Dionysus' death and rebirth are starkly different both in content and symbolism from Jesus. The two stories take place in very different historical and geographic contexts. Also, the manner of death is different; in the most common myth, Dionysus was torn to pieces and eaten by the [[titan (mythology)|Titan]]s, but "eventually restored to a new life" from the heart that was left over.<ref>Detienne, Marcel. Dionysus Slain. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins, 1979.</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Evans, Arthur. The God of Ecstasy. New York: St. Martins' Press, 1989</ref>

Another parallel can be seen in ''[[The Bacchae]]'' where Dionysus appears before King Pentheus on charges of claiming divinity, which is compared to the New Testament scene of Jesus being interrogated by Pontius Pilate.<ref name="Wick2004 179–198">{{cite journal |last=Wick |first=Peter |title=Jesus gegen Dionysos? Ein Beitrag zur Kontextualisierung des Johannesevangeliums |journal= [[Biblica (journal)|Biblica]] |volume=85 |issue=2 |pages=179–198 |publisher= [[Pontifical Biblical Institute]] |location= Rome |year=2004 |url= http://www.bsw.org/?l=71851&a=Comm06.html |access-date= 10 October 2007 }}</ref><ref name=Powell>Powell, Barry B., ''Classical Myth''. Second ed. With new translations of ancient texts by Herbert M. Howe. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1998.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=0fLPOx1B-AwC&pg=PA331 Studies in Early Christology], by [[Martin Hengel]], 2005, p. 331 ({{ISBN|0567042804}}).</ref> However, a number of scholars dispute this parallel, since the confrontation between Dionysus and Pentheus ends with Pentheus dying, torn into pieces by the mad women, whereas the trial of Jesus ends with him being sentenced to death.<ref>Dalby, Andrew (2005). ''The Story of Bacchus''. London: British Museum Press.</ref>

E. Kessler has argued that the Dionysian cult developed into strict [[monotheism]] by the fourth century AD; together with [[Mithraism]] and other sects, the cult formed an instance of "pagan monotheism" in direct competition with [[Early Christianity]] during [[Late Antiquity]].<ref>E. Kessler, ''Dionysian Monotheism in Nea Paphos, Cyprus''. Symposium on ''Pagan Monotheism in the Roman Empire'', Exeter, 17–20 July 2006 [http://www.huss.ex.ac.uk/classics/conferences/pagan_monotheism/abstracts.html Abstract] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421032154/http://www.huss.ex.ac.uk/classics/conferences/pagan_monotheism/abstracts.html |date=21 April 2008 }})</ref> Scholars from the sixteenth century onwards, especially [[Gerard Vossius]], also discussed the parallels between the biographies of Dionysus/Bacchus and [[Moses]].<ref>Bull, 240–241</ref>

[[John Moles]] has argued that the Dionysian cult influenced early Christianity, and especially how Christians understood themselves as a new religion centered around a savior deity.<ref name="moles"/>