The Only GOD Powerful Enough to Succeed ZEUS - Greek Mythology Explained

Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Mythology Explained. In today's video, we're going to be discussing Zagreus, the first incarnation of the god Dionysus, a god whom Zeus bestowed with the lightning bolt, intending him to be his heir, a god who was torn to pieces when Hera set the titans on him. Let's get into it.To understand Zagreus' story, we have to start by unpacking Orphism, which was, essentially, an offshoot of mainstream ancient Greek religious beliefs. It was promulgated by travelling priests who preached and initiated based on the songs and teachings of the hero Orpheus - more on him later. Those who followed the Orphic teachings believed that humans were constituent of two parts: the spark of the divine, the soul, and mortal flesh. It was believed that a person's ultimate task was to liberate their soul from the fetters of flesh, something that could only be accomplished by living a life consistent with the Orphic edicts - many of which were abstemious and ascetic, calling for people to refrain from indulgence, avoiding such pleasures as meat, wine, and sexual intercourse. Following death was the judgment of the soul. If a person led a righteous life, their soul would pass on to the paradise of Elysium, but if a person lived a wicked life, then for them, the plunge of death would herald punishment. After a time, a person's soul would be reincarnated, and if a person could lead a life characterized by piety and righteousness three times in a row, then their soul would be freed from the cycle of reincarnation. Orpheus was a singularly talented musician. No other mortal was his equal, and it would have taken the likes of Apollo himself to best him in a contest. When he played, trees bent towards him to hear better, and rivers stopped flowing, pausing to listen. He was one of the heroes selected by Jason to accompany him on the quest for the golden fleece, and he travelled to the underworld itself to bring back his true love to the land of the living. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices