Royal House of Thebes: Part 1 - Dionysus

   In this series of blog posts, I chronicle ongoing paintings series. This particular series deals with paintings of the royal house of Thebes, from classical Greek mythology.  Each post will highlight a painting, and offer a short explanation of the corresponding story behind the image. ​ Look for other series as well, including a series of the Life of Hercules. 

​     The kingdom of Thebes began with the early Greek hero Cadmus and his wife Harmonia, the daughter of Aphrodite and Ares. Together, the two had 5 children, one of these, a daughter named Semele. With Zeus, Semele would become the mother of the last god to enter the Olympic pantheon - Dionysus, god of Wine.
​   Hera, wife of Zeus, became jealous of their relationship and decided to end the woman's life with treachery. Hera placed doubt into Semele's mind that perhaps the father of her child was not really Zeus. To ensure this, Semele should ask to see his true godly form. Zeus, knowing the consequences of such a request, could not refuse. He had promised to deny her nothing. Upon seeing his divine form, one that mortals cannot bear, Semele perished. Zeus sewed the still developing child into his own thigh to await birth. 
   Dionysus was later given Hestia's place among the Olympians and the task to ease men's troubled minds with the gift of wine. Despite this favorable position, the young god possessed a dangerous side, much like his father Zeus. (Discussed more in the next installment.) The connection to his mother's sad fate and Dionysus' dark and powerful divine nature  gives this painting it's title. ​​

The terrible countenance of Dionysus, acrylic paint on canvas, 30 x 48" 
​(76.2 x 121.92 cm), private collection, Albuquerque, NM