As the god of wine and festivals, it should come as no surprise that Dionysus has been very popular throughout the ages.

Dionysian worship dates back to Mycenaean Greece (at least 1050 BC). His primary worshippers were women, slaves, and people considered “outsiders” by mainstream society. In contrast to strict gender/class-based societies of the day, under Dionysus all were equal.

Dionysian festivals became massively popular, growing into week-long affairs that featured parades, dancing, and even a yearly competition for debuting new plays from the day’s biggest playwrights.

The rich and powerful saw Dionysus’ free-spirited following as a threat. Over the centuries they tried again and again to stamp them out for good.

But even under the threat of death, Dionysians didn’t let the party stop.