Bacchanalia

Bacchanalia
bacchanalian, adj., n.bacchanalianism, n.
/bak'euh nay"lee euh, -nayl"yeuh/, n., pl. Bacchanalia, Bacchanalias.
1. (sometimes used with a pl. v.) a festival in honor of Bacchus. Cf. Dionysia.
2. (l.c.) a drunken feast; orgy.
[1625-35; < L equiv. to Bacch(us) + -an(us) -AN + -alia, neut. pl. of -ALIS -AL1; prob. modeled on volcanalia. See SATURNALIA]

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In Greco-Roman religion, any of the festivals of the wine god Bacchus (Dionysus), which probably originated as fertility rites.

The most famous Greek festivals included the Greater Dionysia, with its dramatic performances; the Anthesteria; and the Lesser Dionysia, characterized by simple rites. Bacchanalia were introduced from lower Italy into Rome, where they were at first secret, open only to women, and held three times a year. They later admitted men and became as frequent as five times a month. In 186 BC their reputation as orgies led the Senate to prohibit them throughout Italy, except in special cases.

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▪ Greco-Roman festival
also called  Dionysia,  
 in Greco-Roman religion, any of the several festivals of Bacchus ( Dionysus), the wine god. They probably originated as rites of fertility gods. The most famous of the Greek Dionysia were in Attica and included the Little, or Rustic, Dionysia, characterized by simple, old-fashioned rites; the Lenaea, which included a festal procession and dramatic performances; the Anthesteria, essentially a drinking feast; the City, or Great, Dionysia (Great Dionysia), accompanied by dramatic performances in the theatre of Dionysus, which was the most famous of all; and the Oschophoria (“Carrying of the Grape Clusters”).

      Introduced into Rome (Roman religion) from lower Italy, the Bacchanalia were at first held in secret, attended by women only, on three days of the year. Later, admission was extended to men, and celebrations took place as often as five times a month. The reputation of these festivals as orgies led in 186 BC to a decree of the Roman Senate that prohibited the Bacchanalia throughout Italy, except in certain special cases. (Surprisingly, a copy of the decree survives, as does an account by the Roman historian Livy.) Nevertheless, Bacchanalia long continued in the south of Italy.

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  • Bacchanalia — Bac cha*na li*a (b[a^]k k[.a]*n[=a] l[i^]*[.a]), n. pl. [L. Bacchanal a place devoted to Bacchus; in the pl. Bacchanalia a feast of Bacchus, fr. Bacchus the god of wine, Gr. Ba kchos.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Myth.) A feast or an orgy in honor of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • BACCHANALIA — Bacchi festa, in quibus viri per noctem feminis, et tenerae aetati turpiter per dolum admiscebantur. Iuvenal. Sat. 2. v. 3. Qui Curios simulant et Bacchanalia vivunt. Eorum pompam, et festivitatem breviter describir Plut. περὶ φιλοπλουτείας. De… …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • bacchanalia — index debauchery Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • bacchanalia — (n.) drunken revelry, 1630s, from the name of the Roman festival held in honor of Bacchus, from neuter plural of L. bacchanalis (see BACCHANAL (Cf. bacchanal)). A participant is a Bacchant (1690s), fem. Bacchante, from French. The plural of both… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Bacchanalia — [bak΄ə nā′lē ə] pl.n. [L] 1. [sometimes with sing. v.] an ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus 2. [b ] [usually with sing. v.; with pl. v., often bacchanalias] a drunken party; orgy bacchanalian adj., n …   English World dictionary

  • Bacchanalia — Infobox Holiday holiday name = Bacchanalia type = Pagan longtype = Pagan, Historical caption = The Bacchanal by Peter Paul Rubens observedby = Romans date = celebrations = observances = relatedto = The bacchanalia were wild and mystic festivals… …   Wikipedia

  • Bacchanalia — [ˌbakə neɪlɪə] plural noun [also treated as sing.] 1》 the Roman festival of the god Bacchus. 2》 (bacchanalia) wild revelry. Derivatives bacchanalian adjective Origin C16: from L. bacchanalia, neut. plural of the adjective bacchanalis (see… …   English new terms dictionary

  • bacchanalia — noun (plural bacchanalia) Etymology: Latin, from Bacchus Date: 1591 1. plural, capitalized a Roman festival of Bacchus celebrated with dancing, song, and revelry 2. a. orgy 2 …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • bacchanalia — baccanale ит. [баккана/ле] Bacchanal нем. [бакана/ль] bacchanale фр. [бакана/ль] bacchanalia англ. [бэкэнэ/йлийэ] вакханалия, праздник в честь Вакха …   Словарь иностранных музыкальных терминов

  • bacchanalia — wild revelry. → Bacchanalia …   English new terms dictionary

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