The topic of the thesis is the cult of Dionysus in ancient Greece. Dionysus is the deity of wine, fertility, ecstasy and theatre, and despite his lesser recognition of his temples, he occupies an important place in religious and social life. The work first presents the history of research and key studies that have shaped the modern understanding of the cult. This is followed by an overview of the myths about Dionysus, which shed light on his origin, role and discussions about his possible foreign origin, with the beginnings of the cult as early as the Mycenaean period. The central part of the thesis analyses the characteristics of the Dionysus cult, including the role of the maenads and mystery practices. Special attention is paid to the Dionysian festivals, which had a significant impact on the development of theatre and wider cultural life. The last, most extensive part discusses the temples and sanctuaries of Dionysus based on archaeological evidence. Examples from Naxos, Delos, Teos, Pergamon and Athens are analysed in more detail, where the connection between the sanctuary and theatre is also highlighted.
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