Acratophorus

Acratophorus is the god in his raw, unmixed, unsoftened form — the Dionysus of Arcadia, the bringer of pure wine and pure presence.Long before the polished festivals of later ages, he was honored in the wild places: the mountains of Phigalia, the deep Arcadian forests, the hidden shrines where the Thyiades danced beneath the moon.

This poem was written several years ago, during a period of early devotion when the god’s presence felt both intimate and immense. It is not an invocation, nor a ritual text, but a simple offering of praise — a hymn of affection for the Dionysus who comforts Black Demeter, who fills the amphorae to overflowing, who transforms the heart as surely as wine transforms the vine.

I share it here as a public devotional, a glimpse into one of the many faces of the god we honor.

Acratophorus, Acratophorus

You who are so lovingly and divine

Great God of the Arcadian forest

Gracious Lord, giver of the vine

In secret you go to Black Demeter

To comfort and console her deep repine

With soothingly kind love you complete her

That Gaia will bring forth the fruitful vine

High in the mountains of Phigalia

We who adore you have built you a shrine

Thaydes revel in your Bacchanalia

knowing that they will see you in due time

You keep our Amphoras overstocked and filled to the brim

And our Kylikes are never empty, dripping from the rim

In your Madness we have found rapture and joyous delight

As we dance our rounds in the forest beneath the moonlight

Acratophorus, Acrarophorus

You who transforms us like wine from the vine

Great God of the Arcadian forest

We shall love you until the end of time.

⟡ Eo Evohé ⟡

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