March the 4th, 2025 | How not to talk about the myth of Bacchus on the period of Carnival ? God of wine and the grape harvest, but also of pleasure and fun, Bacchus is a figure from Roman mythology, equivalent to the Greek deity of Dionisio. He was born of Jupiter, king of the Gods, and Semele, an earthly woman with the gift of always smiling. His Master was Sileno, a great fun-loving drinker with a propensity for starting fights.
The myth of Bacchus
The myth of Bacchus recounts how, in keeping with his times, Bacchus accepted the assignment to devote himself to military life, on the condition that his army would never resort to arms, thus giving rise to the ‘war of the din’.
But with time, he realised that a war without blood led to no end, and set out to find a solution on his own: having grown up in nature, he was intrigued by these strange fruits, group together around a ‘stalk’, forming a cluster. Squeezing these fruits, a red liquid came out, quite similar to blood. It was with this liquid that he smeared his army red, and made his enemies drink it in large quantities, subduing them with ease.
Sangiovese, the blood of Jupiter
Bacchus, or rather his father Jupiter, is linked to another ‘blood’ story that is very close to us Tuscans: we are talking about the origin of the name Sangiovese, a princely variety in Tuscany and extremely widespread in many parts of Italy.
One of the possible derivations of this name is precisely Sanguis Jovis, “the blood of Jupiter”, coined by a monk who, on the occasion of a banquet in honour of Pope Leo XII, when asked by the Pontiff about the name of the exquisite nectar served by the monks, replied ‘Sanguis Jovis!’.
Blood and wine
The connection between blood and wine is a theme that emerges in various cultural and symbolic spheres, and has always been considered a symbol of life: its ruby red colouring immediately recalls the association with blood, a link that emphasises the ‘giving of life’ to wine.
In the case of Sangiovese, the wine itself is named after the blood of a deity, evoking a symbolism of power, nobility and sacredness. This link between blood and wine is enriched with a mythological value, where wine is not just a drink, but an emblem of the strength and dignity of a superior figure.
Bacchanalia: drunkness and delirium
As his myth became famous throughout the ancient world, the so-called Dionysian festivals, Bacchanalia, were born, where drunkenness and delirium became the rule. There are traces of Bacchanalia in both Florence and Fiesole: during Roman times there were celebrations characterised by dancing, music, banquets and erotic rituals.
Temples and sacred areas, such as the Ancient Roman Theatre in Fiesole,have been used as a place of entertainment and a site for religious ceremonies.
Fiesole’s Roman Theatre is still the venue for music, dance and theatre performances during the Estate Fiesolana. Find out more about Fiesole and its Estate Fiesolana HERE!
In Florence, many museums exhibit archaeological finds showing mythological scenes, including those depicting Dionysus, with symbols of wine, wild nature and processions of satyrs and nymphs. The tradition of Bacchic festivals survived in a symbolic way in later centuries, particularly during the Florentine Renaissance, where the theme of classical mythology was very present in art, music and celebrations.
The myth of Bacchus is full of contrasts: joy and destruction, ecstasy and madness, celebration and punishment. His figure represents the link between man and the primordial forces of nature.
His is an invitation to live without restrictions but also the risk of falling victim to one’s own uncontrolled passions.
