The Anthesteria

That which makes these experiences even more unusual are the dates they occurred: "March 2nd and the 4th." For these are the proximate dates of the ancient Greek festival of Dionysia (among other festivals by this name), held in honor of Dionysus, God of Wine and Ecstasy. This particular festival was called the Anthesteria, and/or Lenea, and centered about the sanctuary of Dionysus (or Lenaeum), whose shrine was opened on only one day in the year. Its dates were from the 11th to the 13th of Anthesterion or, about March 2nd to the 4th. (And it was attended by the fourteen Gerarai!) While at the time I had no knowledge of Dionysus, nor of this festival in his honor. It's equally interesting that my name, Dennis, comes from Dionysus, something I also found out later. (The name Dennis also means, discerner of excellence.)

Dionysus was also called the god of confrontation, and was known for his many epiphanies: he had more epiphanies and manifestations than any other god. One epiphany of particular interest, that occured during the Anthesteria, happened when he sailed across the Aegean Sea, in his black ship: from the coast of Asia Minor (Turkey) to the mainland of Greece, before making his appearance in Athens—with his ship on wheels. Similar to a pickup truck? I've seen depictions of Greek art with Dionysus aboard his ship, and there's a remarkable similarity between his ship, and the ancient sailing vessel in my dream. The only significant difference was that of the color, his was black while the one I was aboard was made out of gold.

Dionysus was also called the twice-born god, and his advent (rebirth) was often celebrated by placing a newborn baby in a cradle (winnowing basket?), and having him roused from his slumber by attendant female nurses. It usually occurred during the winter, and these nurses were the Maenads, the attendant followers of the god. Strikingly enough, it compares with my rebirth experience in the front of my truck.

I might add that when Dionysus was first born, he was born at the destruction of his mother, Semele, a mortal and a virgin, who had conceived him by Zeus. She was destroyed, when she mistook the treachery of Hera—the ever-jealous and vengeful wife of Zeus—for friendly counsel. Hera persuaded Semele to ask Zeus to reveal himself to her, "in all his glory," as he did with his wife (Hera herself). Consequently Zeus revealed himself to Semele, as thunder and lightning, and she was incinerated to ashes. All that was left was the six month old fetus (six weeks?), which Zeus, through the aid of Hermes, picked up and sewed into his thigh—to further the gestation period. Dionysus was thus born a second time by his father Zeus. And so correlates with the vision of the man I had prior to the rebirth experience: whose testicles came into view and, had reminded me of my father, suggesting I was born a second time by my father as well; either my earthly or, heavenly father.