god
Bacchus
also: Bacchae, Bacchis, Bacchanals
The wine-god Dionysus/Bacchus; in Fam. 7.23 the plural 'Bacchae' denotes statues of his ecstatic female devotees (maenads), the figures Gallus bought for Cicero and compared with the Muses of Metellus.
Reading notes
- Ad Atticum 15.27 §3 the garlands for the statues
The 'Bacchis' (Bacchae) appear to be statues of Bacchus or his maenad followers in Cicero's collection; he is pleased to have news of them and of the garlands adorning them.
- Ad Familiares 7.23 §2 those Bacchae of yours
Statues of Bacchae (maenads, the ecstatic female devotees of Bacchus/Dionysus), a popular decorative subject. Cicero dismisses them as 'pretty little things' with no fit place in his house.
- On the Nature of the Gods §2.62 the Liber born of Semele
Balbus distinguishes two Libers: the Greek Dionysus/Bacchus, son of Semele, deified for his benefits; and the old Italian Liber worshipped with Ceres and Libera in the mysteries. The distinction underlies Roman wine-cult.