Aguas, Dioniso, Ninfas y ménades

In the Dionysiac realm, the waters of seas, rivers and lakes mark vital and daily moments of the god and his entourage, Nymphs and Maenads. In the waters or near them Dionysus is born, grows, goes down to Hades, dies and reappears. In the same scenario, the god himself and his entourage bathe, are attacked or seek refuge. The waters are considered a place of transit, ideal therefore for Dionysus, the absent god par excellence, who periodically arrives from afar. His epiphany is claimed through the waters and his statue is thrown into them or her followers are submerged. The present study analyzes various Dionysiac myths and rites in which water takes on a role, trying to establish its symbolism and connotations.