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Poetry
by Chris Zachariou
United Kingdom


Τάκης Ζαχαρίου

Ποιήματα

Γιαλούσα, Κύπρος

Writer's pictureChris Zachariou

Bacchus and Ariadne | Greek Mythology Poems


Titian’s magnificent painting “Bacchus and Ariadne” in the National Gallery in London. The painting captures the mythological tale with vivid colours and emotional intensity.
Bacchus and Ariadne by Titian

Bacchus dressed in

skins and fine purples

comes riding to the shore;

debauched and sinful

he craves the willowy nymph

drowning in a sea of lilies.


Ariadne betrayed by her lover

grieves on the shores of Naxos

for the loss of Theseus.


How beautiful and pale

the forlorn child looks.

Her breasts are almost bare

her neck is long and slender

and a promise of blemished

innocence shades her eyes.


Frenzy drives the god insane.

He brings her garlands made

of stars and scatters orchids

and red roses at her feet.


Drunk with lust

the takes the frightened child

to his marriage chamber

and on the bridal bed

with kisses beyond limits

he meanders on her thighs

until she throbs with joy.


Driven to the peaks

she casts her love for Theseus

and all her morals in the sea

and she revels in the rhythm

of his honey-dripping flute.


Drunken satyrs sway in darkness;

with glazed eyes, they beseech their

master until god and goblins are one.


Ariadne free at last of all wrecked

prisons, guides Bacchus and his beasts

into labyrinths of sinful pleasure.


Prudence is destroyed,

her sensual mouth brims with honey

and unbridled chaos rules the land.


A few words about the poem…

 

The Enchanting Tale of Bacchus and Ariadne: A Journey Through Greek Mythology Poems

 

The narrative of Bacchus and Ariadne, rooted deeply in Greek mythology, has inspired countless artistic and literary works. This poem, "Bacchus and Ariadne," belongs to the series Greek Mythology Poems, capturing the essence of divine indulgence and mortal longing.

 

In the lore of Greek mythology, Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos of Crete, is an emblem of love and betrayal. She aided Theseus, the Athenian hero, in escaping the Labyrinth after slaying the Minotaur, only to face abandonment on the island of Naxos. Here, the myths diverge: either she succumbs to despair, or she is found and wed by Bacchus, the god of wine and revelry.

 

The poem vividly illustrates Bacchus' arrival, clad in skins and fine purples, embodying both debauchery and divine desire. His arrival on Naxos sets the stage for a passionate encounter. The description of Ariadne as a "forlorn child" with "blemished innocence" evokes her vulnerability and the poignant shift from innocence to ecstasy.

 

Ariadne’s initial sorrow, lamenting her betrayal by Theseus, is portrayed with delicate imagery. Her grief is palpable as she grieves on the shores of Naxos, a symbol of lost love and shattered dreams. The poem’s depiction of her physical beauty—her almost bare breasts, long slender neck, and eyes shaded with innocence—captures the reader’s empathy for her plight.

 

As Bacchus approaches, driven by frenzy and lust, the poem transitions into a vivid tableau of divine seduction. The god's actions—bringing garlands made of stars, scattering orchids, and red roses at her feet—symbolize both his love and his overwhelming desire. The intensity of their union is conveyed with striking language, describing how Bacchus' kisses lead Ariadne to revel in joy and abandon her past love.

 

The poem reaches a crescendo as Ariadne embraces the rhythm of a "honey-dripping flute," casting aside her morals and succumbing to the chaotic pleasures of Bacchus’ realm. The imagery of drunken satyrs swaying in darkness, merging with their master, paints a scene of unrestrained ecstasy and primal unity.

 

Ariadne’s transformation is complete as she guides Bacchus and his followers into "labyrinths of sinful pleasure." This vivid depiction of their union signifies a release from her past sorrows and an embrace of her newfound power and freedom. The poem concludes with Ariadne’s sensual mouth brimming with honey, a metaphor for the intoxicating bliss and unbridled chaos that now rule her existence.

 

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