Dionysus and his derivatives : a problem of research or researchers' problem?

Bibliogr. s. 22-23. Autor był doktorantem w latach 2009-2014.

For over one and a half century, the mythology and cult of Dionysus has been one of the more frequently discussed issues of ancient Greek culture. Not only has it become an object of interest for classical scholars, but has also influenced different fields of research, art, and culture. As a result, the name of the god and its cognates have been frequently used in scholarly and non-scholarly publications. Their meanings have been shaped by use and abuse. We can assume that the word "Dionysiac" used today hardly means what it would have meant in classical Greek, if the word had existed in that language. This semantic shift may sometimes influence not only popular beliefs about ancient culture, but also research practice. In my article I would like to discuss some aspects of Dionysus' popularity and its impact on our understanding of classical world.