An Attempt to Remove the Asia-Europe Opposition

Abstract

The main subject of Dionysiaca by epic poet Nonnus of Panopolis (5 th century AD) is the expedition to India by Dionysus. Before a battle, Zeus urges Bacchus to use his thyrsus to drive out the savage and arrogant race of Indians from Asida [1] to the sea, fight against the son of a river deity – King Deriades, and teach various tribes the sacred dances of the vigil and the purple fruit of the vintage (XIII, 3-7). [2] Zeus predicts that Dionysus will find his place close to Zeus on Olympus only after he defeats Indians. Dionysus assembles an army of immortals and mortals and goes for a battle. On his way to India, he goes across Phrygia, Bithynia, the Caucasus, Assyria, Arabia, and the Sea of Eritrea. After Bacchus reaches India, defeats Indians, and teaches them the sacred dances of the vigil and the purple fruit of the vintage, he goes back. He reaches his final destination – Olympus – via Arabia, Phoenicia, the Caucasus, Phrygia, diffe­rent Greek cities, and is elevated to gods on Olympus. translation by W. H. D. Rouse, Cambridge, Harvard University Press 1940-1942.