Dionysus Coloring Pages
Welcome to our Dionysus coloring pages section.
Dionysus is the Greek god of wine, grapevines, celebrations and theater. The Romans called him Bacchus. He's the only one of the Olympian gods with a human mother, the Theban princess Semele, and he had a very strange start in life. Semele died before he was born, so Zeus sewed the baby into his own thigh and kept him there until he was ready. That's why the Greeks called Dionysus "twice-born." In art he usually wears a wreath of ivy or grape leaves, carries a staff called a thyrsus, and travels with a noisy crowd of satyrs and maenads.
Jump to: Info & Graffiti | Ariadne | Pirates | Followers | Symbols | More Pages
Dionysus Information Page and Graffiti Art
Information Page
This Dionysus information worksheet and coloring page has his name across the top in big bold letters you can color, an easy-to-color picture of Dionysus in the middle, and a few fun facts about the god of wine and celebration at the bottom. It's a handy one for school projects.
Information worksheets and coloring pages
Graffiti Art
An ancient god in a modern street art style. Bold markers and bright colors work great on these, and since Dionysus was the god of wild parties, he fits right in.
Dionysus and Ariadne
Ariadne was the princess of Crete who gave Theseus a ball of thread so he could find his way out of the Labyrinth after fighting the Minotaur. Theseus promised to marry her, then sailed off and left her asleep on the island of Naxos. Dionysus found her there and married her himself. As a wedding gift he gave her a crown, and later he set it in the sky, where it became the constellation Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown.
Dionysus and the Pirates
One day a band of pirates spotted a young man standing on the shore and grabbed him, thinking he was a rich prince they could sell. It was Dionysus. Once they were out at sea, strange things started to happen. Grapevines grew up the mast, ivy wound around the oars, and Dionysus turned into a roaring lion. The terrified pirates jumped overboard, and as they hit the water they turned into dolphins. Only the helmsman was spared, because he was the one who had warned the others to let their prisoner go. The story comes from one of the Homeric Hymns, a set of ancient poems written in honor of the gods.
Satyrs and Maenads
Dionysus never traveled alone. Satyrs were wild nature spirits, part man and part goat, who loved music, dancing and mischief. (In the oldest Greek art they have horse ears and tails instead.) The wisest of them was old Silenus, who helped raise Dionysus. Maenads were his women followers. Their name means "raving ones," and they danced through the forests wearing fawn skins and carrying a thyrsus staff of their own.
Symbols of Dionysus
Grapes and Grapevines
In the myths, Dionysus was the one who taught people how to grow grapes and make wine, and he traveled far and wide spreading the grapevine wherever he went. The grape harvest in the fall was one of the biggest celebrations of the Greek year, and it belonged to him. Deep purples and fresh greens are the classic colors here.
His Cup
The cup Dionysus carries has a name: a kantharos. It's a deep drinking cup with two tall handles, and it was his special symbol. If you look at ancient Greek vases in a museum, you can often spot Dionysus just by finding the figure holding one.
The Thyrsus
A thyrsus is a long staff made from a fennel stalk, wrapped in ivy and topped with a pinecone. Dionysus and his followers all carried one, and it was said to have magic powers. In some stories, striking the ground with a thyrsus made wine or honey bubble up out of the earth. Soft greens for the ivy and warm browns for the pinecone bring out the details.
His Chariot
Most gods had horses pulling their chariots, but not Dionysus. His was usually pulled by panthers or leopards, big cats that matched his wild side. Roman artists sometimes gave him tigers instead.
More Dionysus Coloring Pages
Bearded or Beardless?
The earliest Greek artists always painted Dionysus as a grown man with a long, flowing beard, like the one here. Later artists changed their minds and started showing him as a young man with no beard at all. Both versions show up on vases and statues, so as you look through the pages below, see which one each picture uses.
About Dionysus, the Enigmatic God of Wine and Revelry:
Imagine Dionysus' realm, a world where vineyards stretch endlessly under a warm, golden sun. The air is filled with the scent of ripe grapes and the sound of joyous laughter. The colors around him are rich purples, lush greens, and vibrant golds, reflecting the lush abundance and vibrant energy of the god of wine.
In this lively domain, Dionysus emanates an aura of untamed joy, inspiring both fear and admiration in those who witness the power of the god of revelry. His adventures and celebrations serve as a reminder of the delicate balance between order and chaos.
Dionysus Coloring and Drawing Guide
Coloring Tips:
- Use deep greens and purples for the grapevines and ivy, symbolizing the lushness of vineyards.
- Depict Dionysus' clothing in rich purples and golds to highlight his divine and regal status.
Creative Challenge:
- Draw a scene where Dionysus is celebrating a festival with his followers. Show the joy, dance, and music that define his revelries.
