Marriage and Succession in Nonnus’ Dionysiaca

Scholars traditionally endeavour to interpret Nonnus’ gargantuan, mythologically encyclopedic Dionysiaca – the most important imperial Greek epic – by studying its key themes, including Dionysus’ path towards apotheosis (attained after defeating the Indians). This article contends that the epic regularly hints at a concurrent, greater enterprise on Dionysus’ part, that is, his potential succession to Zeus. It also argues that some of the poem’s chief digressions, Dionysus’ love affairs, are connected to this prospect. This reading of the Dionysiaca sheds new light on Nonnus’ interest in succession – an interest with metapoetic, generic, political and religious roots.