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Dick Osseman | all galleries >> Antakya Turkey >> Antakya Archaeological Museum >> Satyr et al > Antakya dec 2008 5918.jpg
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07-DEC-2008

Antakya dec 2008 5918.jpg

Lycurgus being entwined in the ivy, Harbiye, 3rd century AD. From the Wikipedia: Lycurgus (also Lykurgos, Lykourgos) was a king of the Edoni in Thrace, and the son of Dryas, the "oak" (Iliad vi). He banned the cult of Dionysus. When Lycurgus heard that Dionysus was in his kingdom, he imprisoned Dionysus' followers, the Maenads. Dionysus fled, taking refuge with Thetis the sea nymph. Dionysus then sent a drought to Thrace.
Going insane, Lycurgus mistook his son for a mature trunk of ivy, which is holy to Dionysus, and killed him, pruning away his nose and ears, fingers and toes. Dionysus decreed that the land would stay dry and barren as long as Lycurgus was left unpunished for his injustice, so his people had him dismembered by wild horses. With Lycurgus dead, Dionysus lifted the curse.

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