Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:00,324 --> 00:00:03,241
(orchestral music)
2
00:00:35,450 --> 00:00:37,700
- [Narrator] Once upon a
time, there was a young man
3
00:00:37,700 --> 00:00:40,780
who adored love, singing, and dancing,
4
00:00:40,780 --> 00:00:42,853
and also dressing as a woman.
5
00:00:47,260 --> 00:00:50,290
Wherever he went, he was
accompanied by a procession
6
00:00:50,290 --> 00:00:52,610
composed of pale-skinned nymphs
7
00:00:52,610 --> 00:00:55,965
with long black hair and
satyrs with goat horns.
8
00:00:55,965 --> 00:00:58,715
(dramatic music)
9
00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,460
The young man led the procession
10
00:01:02,460 --> 00:01:05,930
carrying his thyrsus,
a staff wound with ivy
11
00:01:05,930 --> 00:01:09,340
and topped with a pine cone,
accompanied by the raucous
12
00:01:09,340 --> 00:01:12,170
sound of the rhombus or bullroarer,
13
00:01:12,170 --> 00:01:13,590
which resembled thunder
14
00:01:13,590 --> 00:01:15,953
or the screams of the gods.
15
00:01:15,953 --> 00:01:18,703
(dramatic music)
16
00:01:22,711 --> 00:01:26,300
This long procession
wended its way along roads,
17
00:01:26,300 --> 00:01:29,233
causing fear and
astonishment among onlookers.
18
00:01:31,898 --> 00:01:34,481
(violin music)
19
00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:37,505
As a young man, he was very different
20
00:01:37,505 --> 00:01:39,323
to others of his age.
21
00:01:40,540 --> 00:01:42,880
It was said he didn't have the same morals
22
00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,150
as respectable people.
23
00:01:45,150 --> 00:01:48,250
His were carefree and debauched.
24
00:01:48,250 --> 00:01:51,092
Once he was seen lying on the road,
25
00:01:51,092 --> 00:01:55,463
drunk on wine after a
long night of love making.
26
00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,983
No, this young man was
definitely different.
27
00:02:01,635 --> 00:02:03,340
In everybody's eyes,
28
00:02:03,340 --> 00:02:07,473
he was an outsider, a
vagabond, and marginal,
29
00:02:10,148 --> 00:02:13,767
and yet he was a bona fide god.
30
00:02:17,650 --> 00:02:20,030
His name was Dionysus.
31
00:02:20,030 --> 00:02:23,440
He was nicknamed Agrios,
meaning the wild one
32
00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,880
or Bromius, he who roars,
33
00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:28,633
due to the terribly din
that accompanied his birth.
34
00:02:30,427 --> 00:02:35,330
His birth, it was indeed
an unbelievable event.
35
00:02:35,330 --> 00:02:38,820
Zeus, whose appetite for seducing
young women is well known,
36
00:02:38,820 --> 00:02:41,290
fell for the charms of a young princess,
37
00:02:41,290 --> 00:02:44,265
Semele, daughter of the king of Thebes.
38
00:02:44,265 --> 00:02:46,580
To have his way with her,
39
00:02:46,580 --> 00:02:48,920
Zeus took on the appearance of a mortal,
40
00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:52,233
the only way a human is
able to set eyes on a god.
41
00:02:54,830 --> 00:02:57,630
If a misfortunate mortal were to see a god
42
00:02:57,630 --> 00:02:59,250
with his or her own eyes,
43
00:02:59,250 --> 00:03:01,343
the consequences would be terrible.
44
00:03:05,414 --> 00:03:08,370
So, disguised as an ordinary man,
45
00:03:08,370 --> 00:03:11,803
Zeus lived a moment of
perfect love with Semele.
46
00:03:13,762 --> 00:03:16,703
The trouble is, Zeus was married.
47
00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:22,770
His wife, Hera, was not
only queen of the sky
48
00:03:22,770 --> 00:03:26,783
and Olympus, but also the
protective goddess of marriage,
49
00:03:26,783 --> 00:03:29,750
and her husband's latest
affair concerned her
50
00:03:29,750 --> 00:03:32,633
more than usual because
for the first time,
51
00:03:32,633 --> 00:03:36,443
Zeus was regularly away
from home at night.
52
00:03:39,380 --> 00:03:41,860
Before her rival took
her place permanently,
53
00:03:41,860 --> 00:03:43,623
Hera needed to act.
54
00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:49,762
She took on the appearance
of Semele's nursemaid,
55
00:03:49,762 --> 00:03:54,050
an old woman who had the
princess's complete trust,
56
00:03:54,050 --> 00:03:56,200
and she made her way
to the home of Semele,
57
00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,413
who was already six months pregnant.
58
00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:07,040
Beware, she began, I'm convinced
your lover is not Zeus,
59
00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:08,773
but a lowly imposter.
60
00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,450
If you want to have a clear
mind, ask him to show himself
61
00:04:14,450 --> 00:04:17,710
as king of the gods and
master of lightning,
62
00:04:17,710 --> 00:04:20,843
as he does when he's amongst
the gods on Mount Olympus.
63
00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,530
Semele was disturbed.
64
00:04:24,530 --> 00:04:27,373
Supposing what her nursemaid
had said were true?
65
00:04:30,882 --> 00:04:33,620
When Zeus next visited her,
66
00:04:33,620 --> 00:04:36,883
she demanded that he show
himself in his true state.
67
00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:39,833
Zeus was horrified.
68
00:04:40,970 --> 00:04:43,190
He knew too well the
danger that would entail
69
00:04:43,190 --> 00:04:48,190
for his beloved, so he
refused, but Semele insisted,
70
00:04:48,430 --> 00:04:51,420
reminding him that he had
sworn on the River Styx
71
00:04:51,420 --> 00:04:53,983
that he would do all she asked of him,
72
00:04:53,983 --> 00:04:56,860
and swearing on the Styx was an oath
73
00:04:56,860 --> 00:04:58,163
that couldn't be broken.
74
00:05:00,090 --> 00:05:02,640
A god who did so would be simply banished
75
00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:04,563
from Mount Olympus forever.
76
00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:08,870
Semele begged him.
77
00:05:08,870 --> 00:05:10,383
Zeus resisted.
78
00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:13,120
Very well, fretted Semele.
79
00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,563
If it is so, you shall not
have access to my bedchamber.
80
00:05:18,990 --> 00:05:20,693
Zeus finally yielded.
81
00:05:22,610 --> 00:05:24,840
Before the pleading eyes of his beloved,
82
00:05:24,840 --> 00:05:27,340
he revealed himself in all his thunder
83
00:05:27,340 --> 00:05:28,873
and lightning splendor.
84
00:05:32,410 --> 00:05:34,840
Then tragedy struck.
85
00:05:34,840 --> 00:05:37,313
The whole palace was set on fire,
86
00:05:37,313 --> 00:05:40,490
but the poor Semele just
had time to give birth
87
00:05:40,490 --> 00:05:44,009
before she too was devoured by the flames.
88
00:05:44,009 --> 00:05:46,759
(dramatic music)
89
00:05:51,090 --> 00:05:54,320
Miraculously, the fire spared the infant,
90
00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:56,393
whom Zeus gathered in his arms,
91
00:05:58,265 --> 00:06:02,943
but what should he do with
this prematurely born child?
92
00:06:04,170 --> 00:06:06,160
Hermes, the messenger of the gods,
93
00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:09,273
who was also the son of
Zeus, came to his aid.
94
00:06:10,620 --> 00:06:12,750
He cut open the king of the gods' thigh
95
00:06:12,750 --> 00:06:15,990
and slipped the baby inside.
96
00:06:15,990 --> 00:06:19,523
Zeus, the father, had thus
become its surrogate father.
97
00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,290
Three months later, Hermes,
for it was still he,
98
00:06:24,290 --> 00:06:27,540
reopened the thigh of the almighty Zeus.
99
00:06:27,540 --> 00:06:29,433
The newborn was retrieved.
100
00:06:30,309 --> 00:06:32,950
Later, the Romans would say of the abacus
101
00:06:32,950 --> 00:06:35,483
that he was born of the thigh of Jupiter.
102
00:06:39,780 --> 00:06:42,030
Dianysus was thus born twice,
103
00:06:42,030 --> 00:06:44,170
once from the womb of Semele and once
104
00:06:44,170 --> 00:06:45,733
from the thigh of Zeus.
105
00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,723
So, his second birth
was undoubtedly godly.
106
00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:56,400
Without hesitation, Zeus
entrusted the infant to Ino,
107
00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:58,460
the sister of Semele in the hope
108
00:06:58,460 --> 00:07:00,623
that he would grow up safely beside her.
109
00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:04,960
He ordered her to dress
the boy in female garments
110
00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,460
so that Hera wouldn't recognize him,
111
00:07:07,460 --> 00:07:11,410
but unfortunately, Hera
was keeping a close watch.
112
00:07:11,410 --> 00:07:15,168
While Zeus believed he had got
away with it, he was wrong.
113
00:07:15,168 --> 00:07:20,168
In revenge, his wife cast a
spell on Ino and her husband,
114
00:07:20,250 --> 00:07:23,050
sending them into dementia.
115
00:07:23,050 --> 00:07:25,254
She was about to do the
same to the young Dionysus
116
00:07:25,254 --> 00:07:28,130
when Zeus stepped in at the last second
117
00:07:28,130 --> 00:07:29,623
and rescued the child.
118
00:07:31,690 --> 00:07:33,730
Once again, he entrusted him to Hermes
119
00:07:33,730 --> 00:07:36,088
and ordered the messenger
to take him to Mount Nysa
120
00:07:36,088 --> 00:07:39,603
in a mountain range at
the far end of the Earth.
121
00:07:44,350 --> 00:07:47,550
The young Dionysus was
taken in by the nymphs,
122
00:07:47,550 --> 00:07:49,583
who acted as his benefactors.
123
00:07:53,010 --> 00:07:55,090
They became his foster mothers,
124
00:07:55,090 --> 00:07:58,043
generously breastfeeding
him and raising him.
125
00:07:59,544 --> 00:08:02,461
(orchestral music)
126
00:08:11,530 --> 00:08:13,950
Dionysus already knew
that the path leading
127
00:08:13,950 --> 00:08:17,353
to being recognized as a god
would be long and arduous,
128
00:08:18,505 --> 00:08:21,623
and he became the wandering god.
129
00:08:25,470 --> 00:08:27,900
One morning, Dionysus made a discovery
130
00:08:27,900 --> 00:08:30,383
that would change the life of mortal man.
131
00:08:32,820 --> 00:08:36,403
He spotted a snake biting
into the grapes on a vine.
132
00:08:39,147 --> 00:08:42,080
He, in turn, picked a bunch and squeezed
133
00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:43,793
the fruit between his fingers.
134
00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,893
He was astonished to see how
much juice flowed out of it.
135
00:08:50,030 --> 00:08:52,251
The idea of growing
grapes and transforming
136
00:08:52,251 --> 00:08:55,550
their juice into wine had
just come into the head
137
00:08:55,550 --> 00:08:57,103
of the young Dionysus.
138
00:08:59,460 --> 00:09:02,042
He decided to travel the
world to inform mortals
139
00:09:02,042 --> 00:09:03,553
of his invention.
140
00:09:07,154 --> 00:09:10,071
(triumphant music)
141
00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:13,670
Dionysus hit the road,
142
00:09:13,670 --> 00:09:16,913
accompanied by and noisy and
out-of-the-ordinary retinue,
143
00:09:18,211 --> 00:09:22,200
mostly half-naked women
with their hair unfurled,
144
00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:25,719
known as maenads, but also
satyrs, non-human creatures
145
00:09:25,719 --> 00:09:30,719
whose penises remained constantly erect.
146
00:09:30,910 --> 00:09:33,913
Their chief was Silenus,
the tutor of Dionysus.
147
00:09:36,900 --> 00:09:39,520
Silenus was a remarkable character.
148
00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:42,262
Most of the time, he was blind drunk,
149
00:09:42,262 --> 00:09:45,493
but he was also known for
his incredible wisdom.
150
00:09:50,260 --> 00:09:52,500
The procession passed through villages,
151
00:09:52,500 --> 00:09:56,610
towns, and cities, first through Syria
152
00:09:56,610 --> 00:09:58,980
and then Egypt, where
he was fondly greeted
153
00:09:58,980 --> 00:10:00,393
by the King Proteus.
154
00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:05,350
There, Dionysus passed on
his knowledge about wine.
155
00:10:05,350 --> 00:10:08,303
After that, the procession
headed to Thrace.
156
00:10:09,310 --> 00:10:12,643
In Thrace, however, he
received a much cooler welcome.
157
00:10:14,170 --> 00:10:17,789
The land was ruled over by King Lycurgus.
158
00:10:17,789 --> 00:10:20,080
Lycurgus looked down on this strange,
159
00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:21,783
effeminate looking young man.
160
00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,293
Where is he from, this person
who claims to be a god?
161
00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:30,473
And who are these delirious
women in his wake?
162
00:10:33,110 --> 00:10:36,523
The stranger had been preceded
by a nefarious reputation.
163
00:10:39,030 --> 00:10:41,910
It was said that the
moment he entered a city,
164
00:10:41,910 --> 00:10:45,183
the women were suddenly
overcome by erotic passion.
165
00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,500
They entered into his
possession and he led them
166
00:10:48,500 --> 00:10:50,894
into frenetic dances.
167
00:10:50,894 --> 00:10:53,644
(dramatic music)
168
00:11:01,950 --> 00:11:05,786
All this was most disturbing
to the Thracian king.
169
00:11:05,786 --> 00:11:09,050
Lycurgus immediately
had the maenads arrested
170
00:11:09,050 --> 00:11:10,333
and thrown in jail.
171
00:11:11,810 --> 00:11:14,700
Then he set about hunting down Dionysus.
172
00:11:14,700 --> 00:11:17,202
In fear, the young god ran for it,
173
00:11:17,202 --> 00:11:20,910
but when he reached the sea
and there was no turning back,
174
00:11:20,910 --> 00:11:23,610
Dionysus flung himself into the waves,
175
00:11:23,610 --> 00:11:26,603
where he would drown, gone forever,
176
00:11:35,660 --> 00:11:39,450
but luckily, Thetis, a sea
nymph and goddess of water,
177
00:11:39,450 --> 00:11:42,170
was on hand to comfort him and hide him
178
00:11:42,170 --> 00:11:43,483
down on the seabed.
179
00:11:52,550 --> 00:11:54,260
Dionysus was humiliated.
180
00:11:54,260 --> 00:11:57,930
Nobody had ever treated
him the way Lycurgus had.
181
00:11:57,930 --> 00:12:01,003
He had even lost the courage
to go and confront his pursuer.
182
00:12:03,740 --> 00:12:05,650
It was then that his grandmother decided
183
00:12:05,650 --> 00:12:07,013
to come to his rescue.
184
00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:12,053
She freed the maenads and
cast a spell on Lycurgus.
185
00:12:17,170 --> 00:12:20,560
The king was driven mad
and turned on his own son,
186
00:12:20,560 --> 00:12:23,540
smiting him with his ax
and chopping up his body
187
00:12:23,540 --> 00:12:25,233
into countless pieces.
188
00:12:27,970 --> 00:12:29,730
Then, as further punishment,
189
00:12:29,730 --> 00:12:32,803
Dionysus rendered the
soil of Thrace barren.
190
00:12:33,730 --> 00:12:37,713
This barrenness would last
until King Lycurgus was slain.
191
00:12:40,370 --> 00:12:42,739
Without an ounce of guilt,
the people of Thrace
192
00:12:42,739 --> 00:12:45,544
dragged Lycurgus to Mount Pangaeus,
193
00:12:45,544 --> 00:12:49,473
bound him to wild horses,
and had him torn apart.
194
00:12:56,380 --> 00:12:59,453
Finally, the young Dionysus
could resume his travels.
195
00:13:00,290 --> 00:13:02,133
He headed southwards to India.
196
00:13:04,510 --> 00:13:09,440
Zeus had given him a mission,
to annihilate the population
197
00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:11,880
which had become impious towards the gods
198
00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:15,250
in preference for their new
deities with elephant heads
199
00:13:15,250 --> 00:13:16,563
and numerous arms.
200
00:13:19,410 --> 00:13:21,990
I will punish those who
do not respect the gods
201
00:13:21,990 --> 00:13:24,640
on one condition, he told his father,
202
00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,543
that afterwards I shall
gain access to Olympus.
203
00:13:29,660 --> 00:13:32,450
Dionysus set off, but he didn't even need
204
00:13:32,450 --> 00:13:34,100
to engage in battle.
205
00:13:34,100 --> 00:13:37,023
The inhabitants had already
fallen under his spell.
206
00:13:43,070 --> 00:13:45,820
His arrival gave rise
to fabulous processions
207
00:13:45,820 --> 00:13:48,590
where he stood in a
chariot entwined with vines
208
00:13:48,590 --> 00:13:51,033
and ivy drawn by panthers.
209
00:13:53,592 --> 00:13:56,231
With his faithful maenads and satyrs,
210
00:13:56,231 --> 00:13:59,520
he wet from city to city,
accompanied by cheers
211
00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:01,500
and singing and dancing to the sound
212
00:14:01,500 --> 00:14:03,308
of flutes and tambourines.
213
00:14:03,308 --> 00:14:06,058
(dramatic music)
214
00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:14,183
His victory was complete,
215
00:14:19,043 --> 00:14:21,900
but there was still one stage left
216
00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:23,733
in the journey of Dionysus.
217
00:14:25,158 --> 00:14:30,158
One city, the most important,
remained to be conquered,
218
00:14:32,210 --> 00:14:34,803
Thebes, the city of his birth.
219
00:14:41,060 --> 00:14:44,153
The task that awaited
him appeared complicated.
220
00:14:45,150 --> 00:14:47,760
He knew he would be
seen as both a stranger
221
00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:49,309
and a native.
222
00:14:49,309 --> 00:14:52,059
(dramatic music)
223
00:15:02,580 --> 00:15:05,340
The city was ruled by King Pentheus.
224
00:15:05,340 --> 00:15:07,944
Pentheus represented calm and order,
225
00:15:07,944 --> 00:15:11,063
order that was not to be disturbed.
226
00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:16,600
When he saw women driven into
a state of half-naked ecstasy
227
00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,383
in the presence of
Dionysus, he was shocked.
228
00:15:24,500 --> 00:15:28,433
Women should be at home, cooking
and raising their children.
229
00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:31,813
Nothing else should concern them.
230
00:15:33,010 --> 00:15:35,310
And who are these oddly dressed people
231
00:15:35,310 --> 00:15:38,370
speaking in strange, foreign tongues?
232
00:15:38,370 --> 00:15:42,530
They're not Greeks, and in Pentheus' eyes,
233
00:15:42,530 --> 00:15:45,583
anything that wasn't Greek was barbarian.
234
00:15:47,013 --> 00:15:50,820
Barely had Dionysus passed
through the walls of Thebes
235
00:15:50,820 --> 00:15:53,820
then he began telling
the story of his birth,
236
00:15:53,820 --> 00:15:55,930
revealing to anyone ready to listen
237
00:15:55,930 --> 00:15:59,873
that he was the son of
Zeus, and therefore, a god.
238
00:16:01,970 --> 00:16:05,410
Bursts of laughter from the
king, his queen, and the people.
239
00:16:05,410 --> 00:16:06,243
What?
240
00:16:06,243 --> 00:16:08,870
This lowly beggar accompanied by his band
241
00:16:08,870 --> 00:16:11,900
of lunatic barbarians
is the son of the king
242
00:16:11,900 --> 00:16:13,173
of Mount Olympus?
243
00:16:15,770 --> 00:16:18,263
Dionysus' own aunts,
the sisters of Semele,
244
00:16:18,263 --> 00:16:20,980
were the first to scream imposter.
245
00:16:20,980 --> 00:16:24,020
Never could they believe that
their own sister, Semele,
246
00:16:24,020 --> 00:16:26,563
was capable of seducing Zeus.
247
00:16:27,770 --> 00:16:29,800
On the contrary, they spread the rumor
248
00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:33,070
that Semele, so as not to
reveal the true identity
249
00:16:33,070 --> 00:16:35,530
of the lover who had made her with child,
250
00:16:35,530 --> 00:16:38,180
had pretended to be loved by Zeus,
251
00:16:38,180 --> 00:16:40,660
and that the king of the
gods had punished her
252
00:16:40,660 --> 00:16:42,803
with a thunderbolt for her lies.
253
00:16:43,990 --> 00:16:46,891
The misfortunate Dionysus
was then chased out of Thebes
254
00:16:46,891 --> 00:16:50,300
under a hail of stones and arrows.
255
00:16:50,300 --> 00:16:51,830
He sought refuge in the woods
256
00:16:51,830 --> 00:16:54,630
of Mount Cithaeron overlooking Thebes.
257
00:16:54,630 --> 00:16:59,580
There, he sat on a rock, his
head buried in his hands.
258
00:16:59,580 --> 00:17:01,477
It was only across the seas in the East
259
00:17:01,477 --> 00:17:05,220
where he was adored and considered a god.
260
00:17:05,220 --> 00:17:08,120
Why would Thebes, the city of his mother,
261
00:17:08,120 --> 00:17:10,433
refuse him his rightful welcome?
262
00:17:15,661 --> 00:17:20,661
At dusk, Dionysus gathered
his retinue together.
263
00:17:20,670 --> 00:17:23,270
He lit an immense bonfire
around which he let flow
264
00:17:23,270 --> 00:17:26,240
springs of wine and began dancing
265
00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:29,520
with the sensual maenads,
the pot-bellied satyrs,
266
00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:31,533
and the light-of-foot centaurs.
267
00:17:34,090 --> 00:17:37,660
Then, a amid a cacophony of
drums, fifes, and flutes,
268
00:17:37,660 --> 00:17:39,513
he descended to the city of Thebes.
269
00:17:40,406 --> 00:17:43,610
(dramatic music)
270
00:17:43,610 --> 00:17:46,990
Dionysus began by driving
his aunts to madness,
271
00:17:46,990 --> 00:17:49,110
followed by the wife of Pentheus,
272
00:17:49,110 --> 00:17:51,023
then all the women of Thebes.
273
00:17:52,490 --> 00:17:54,841
Unable to control themselves,
they left their homes
274
00:17:54,841 --> 00:17:58,523
half naked, abandoning
their husbands and children.
275
00:18:00,380 --> 00:18:03,280
Overcome by ecstasy, delirium, and frenzy,
276
00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:06,503
they started to worship
their new god, Dionysus.
277
00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:13,010
Dionysus hailed them and
ordered them to join the maenads
278
00:18:13,010 --> 00:18:14,083
on Mount Cithaeron.
279
00:18:16,390 --> 00:18:19,140
There, they could give
themselves over to the pleasures
280
00:18:19,140 --> 00:18:21,233
of the flesh and of wine.
281
00:18:22,147 --> 00:18:24,897
(dramatic music)
282
00:18:47,752 --> 00:18:51,540
But the revenge of Dionysus
was not yet complete.
283
00:18:51,540 --> 00:18:55,093
There remained Pentheus, the
king who had humiliated him.
284
00:18:56,730 --> 00:19:00,130
At nightfall, Dionysus
disguised himself as a priest
285
00:19:00,130 --> 00:19:01,593
and headed for the palace.
286
00:19:02,501 --> 00:19:04,700
He found Pentheus and told him
287
00:19:04,700 --> 00:19:07,430
of the evening's astonishing events,
288
00:19:07,430 --> 00:19:09,750
and he gradually convinced
him to accompany him
289
00:19:09,750 --> 00:19:12,983
to Mount Cithaeron to
rescue the womenfolk,
290
00:19:12,983 --> 00:19:17,983
but out of prudence, advised
Dionysus, wear a woman's cloak.
291
00:19:19,990 --> 00:19:21,630
Pentheus agreed.
292
00:19:21,630 --> 00:19:24,030
He too wanted to witness the drunken lust
293
00:19:24,030 --> 00:19:25,760
that had taken over his womenfolk
294
00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:27,453
and threatened his very city.
295
00:19:29,340 --> 00:19:32,292
The sensible and virtuous
monarch let down his hair
296
00:19:32,292 --> 00:19:35,003
and darkened his eyebrows and eyelashes.
297
00:19:35,941 --> 00:19:39,173
He was already in the clutch of Dionysus.
298
00:19:43,380 --> 00:19:45,470
When they reached Mount Cithaeron,
299
00:19:45,470 --> 00:19:47,762
Dionysus showed the king to a tree
300
00:19:47,762 --> 00:19:50,780
from the top of which he
could observe the spectacle
301
00:19:50,780 --> 00:19:55,023
without being seen, but it was too late.
302
00:19:56,110 --> 00:19:59,199
The women, blind, drunk,
frenzied, and possessed
303
00:19:59,199 --> 00:20:00,733
had spotted him.
304
00:20:02,090 --> 00:20:06,008
Beneath his disguise, they
recognized him as a man.
305
00:20:06,008 --> 00:20:09,270
They attacked, tearing apart his flesh
306
00:20:09,270 --> 00:20:11,033
and ripping off his limbs.
307
00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,839
Among them was Pentheus' own mother.
308
00:20:14,839 --> 00:20:19,603
He implored her to recognize
her own son, but to no avail.
309
00:20:20,836 --> 00:20:23,450
Caught up in the frenzy, she ripped off
310
00:20:23,450 --> 00:20:26,370
one of his arms, and as
the rest of the women
311
00:20:26,370 --> 00:20:28,380
continued to rip off his flesh,
312
00:20:28,380 --> 00:20:31,940
his mother, still failing
to recognize her son,
313
00:20:31,940 --> 00:20:35,180
chopped off his head, stuck it on a stake,
314
00:20:35,180 --> 00:20:38,963
and began proudly brandishing
her funereal trophy.
315
00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:56,550
When the womenfolk of
Thebes came to their senses
316
00:20:56,550 --> 00:21:00,483
and returned to the city,
Dionysus was awaiting them.
317
00:21:02,950 --> 00:21:05,083
He stepped forward and spoke.
318
00:21:06,970 --> 00:21:10,350
Citizens of Thebes, I am
the greatest challenge
319
00:21:10,350 --> 00:21:12,193
mankind has ever faced.
320
00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:16,273
You have all been entrapped
by customs and mores
321
00:21:16,273 --> 00:21:18,960
just as all mortals have been.
322
00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:21,460
You revere order and discipline,
323
00:21:21,460 --> 00:21:24,320
which are naturally
indispensable to live peacefully
324
00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:29,210
within the city, but
you bury deep inside you
325
00:21:29,210 --> 00:21:32,000
that ounce of difference
which both worries you
326
00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,053
and excites you at the same time.
327
00:21:36,430 --> 00:21:41,430
I am the other, the
outcast, the special one,
328
00:21:42,470 --> 00:21:44,960
and I'm here to reveal that darker side
329
00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,530
that resides inside you.
330
00:21:47,530 --> 00:21:50,340
If you reject it like you rejected me
331
00:21:50,340 --> 00:21:53,280
outside your walls,
then you will be as lost
332
00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:54,860
as the proud Pentheus.
333
00:21:54,860 --> 00:21:56,553
Your king was lost.
334
00:21:58,020 --> 00:22:00,500
But if you accept these wild forces,
335
00:22:00,500 --> 00:22:03,300
if you let them in rather than repel them,
336
00:22:03,300 --> 00:22:05,113
you will be saved.
337
00:22:06,130 --> 00:22:09,750
My father, the almighty
Zeus, sent me to teach you
338
00:22:09,750 --> 00:22:12,573
that true folly isn't what you may think.
339
00:22:13,500 --> 00:22:16,446
Folly is wanting a completely virtuous,
340
00:22:16,446 --> 00:22:18,693
perfectly rational city.
341
00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:23,163
Only the gods live in such perfection.
342
00:22:24,110 --> 00:22:27,313
You mortals must keep your excesses.
343
00:22:28,247 --> 00:22:31,073
Do not admit to reason alone,
344
00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,790
do not exclude reason, welcome it,
345
00:22:35,790 --> 00:22:38,810
but also welcome the unforeseen,
346
00:22:38,810 --> 00:22:42,023
the unpredictable which
may disturb you at first.
347
00:22:42,937 --> 00:22:44,850
This is the condition
348
00:22:44,850 --> 00:22:47,213
which will guarantee your freedom.
349
00:22:54,420 --> 00:22:56,281
Once all Greece had recognized Dionysus
350
00:22:56,281 --> 00:23:00,120
as a god, he continued in
his travels in the islands,
351
00:23:00,120 --> 00:23:02,889
spreading wherever he trod joy and fear
352
00:23:02,889 --> 00:23:04,543
in equal parts.
353
00:23:07,727 --> 00:23:11,330
It was on the shores
of the island of Naxos
354
00:23:11,330 --> 00:23:13,180
that the young god first set eyes
355
00:23:13,180 --> 00:23:16,320
on a beautiful young
woman who was weeping.
356
00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:20,973
It was Ariadne, daughter of
the king of Crete, Minos.
357
00:23:22,580 --> 00:23:25,068
Her lover, Theseus,
had just abandoned her.
358
00:23:25,068 --> 00:23:27,650
Moved by her beauty and sadness,
359
00:23:27,650 --> 00:23:30,070
Dionysus took her to Mount Olympus,
360
00:23:30,070 --> 00:23:32,030
and for the very first time,
361
00:23:32,030 --> 00:23:36,043
a god married a mortal in
front of the assembled gods.
362
00:23:37,055 --> 00:23:39,805
(dramatic music)
363
00:23:44,900 --> 00:23:47,074
The power of Zeus's son was thenceforth
364
00:23:47,074 --> 00:23:49,083
recognized by all.
365
00:23:50,530 --> 00:23:54,640
Dionysus had achieved all he
needed to achieve on Earth.
366
00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:57,753
He had finally earned the
right to dwell in the sky.
367
00:24:03,660 --> 00:24:06,695
Dionysus, the bastard of Thebes,
368
00:24:06,695 --> 00:24:10,090
the outsider in the
city, had to fight hard
369
00:24:10,090 --> 00:24:13,740
to impose his divinity,
to convince disbelievers
370
00:24:13,740 --> 00:24:14,983
or eliminate them.
371
00:24:17,450 --> 00:24:19,640
Soon, Dionysus worship
372
00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:21,993
became an official part of Greek life.
373
00:24:24,230 --> 00:24:27,670
In spring and in fall, cities
organized grand festivals
374
00:24:27,670 --> 00:24:28,943
in his honor.
375
00:24:31,150 --> 00:24:35,393
These gave rise to an essential
Greek art form, theater.
376
00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:43,310
Gradually, epic poems were
transposed into theater plays,
377
00:24:43,310 --> 00:24:46,116
staged onsite, dedicated to the god,
378
00:24:46,116 --> 00:24:49,373
which became the famous
theaters of ancient Greece.
379
00:24:52,350 --> 00:24:54,820
Actors told in verse of the life and feats
380
00:24:54,820 --> 00:24:58,303
of Dionysus and those of other
great heroes of mythology.
381
00:25:01,305 --> 00:25:04,660
Boys played the roles of women.
382
00:25:04,660 --> 00:25:06,950
Characters wore masks.
383
00:25:06,950 --> 00:25:11,040
There was dancing, singing, and drinking.
384
00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:13,160
There were also
underground gatherings too,
385
00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:14,980
where the adepts of Dionysus,
386
00:25:14,980 --> 00:25:18,227
wanting to be in communion
with their preferred god,
387
00:25:18,227 --> 00:25:20,330
ate the flesh of a sacrificed animal,
388
00:25:20,330 --> 00:25:23,436
the body of the god, and drank wine,
389
00:25:23,436 --> 00:25:25,113
the blood of the god.
390
00:25:26,477 --> 00:25:29,227
(dramatic music)
391
00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:38,703
Dionysus was decidedly
a very different god.
392
00:25:39,803 --> 00:25:42,553
(dramatic music)
30880
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.