Zagreus in the ancient sources

Nonnus of Panopolis (7)

1. Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 24.0–61Book 24: Zeus restrains Dionysos; Hydaspes pleadsZeus' thunder checks Dionysos' fire and calms Oceanos, and the burning Hydaspes begs for mercy. The river pleads that he acted to protect his sons, that his reeds and canes serve the god's own vine and pipes, and that he once washed the earlier Dionysos, Zagreus. He asks the god to withdraw his flame.
2. Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 31.0–69Book 31: Hera appeals to Persephone against DionysosHera, jealous at the Indian defeat and the sight of Perseus' trophies, goes down to Persephone in Hades. She tells her that Dionysos will displace Zagreus and Demeter's honour and that Zeus has wronged them both, and asks her to arm the Furies against him.
3. Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 38.103–211Book 38: Hermes' tale: the birth and youth of PhaethonHermes begins the story of Phaethon: Helios marries Clymene, daughter of Oceanos, and their son grows up playing at driving his father's chariot with a toy car. As a youth he begs to drive the chariot of the sun, and Helios warns him that even the gods do not wield one another's powers, citing the fate of Zagreus.
4. Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 5.533–621Book 5: Autonoe's grief; Zeus desires PersephoneiaAutonoe gathers her son's bones and buries them. Agaue bears Pentheus, and Ino marries Athamas and bears Learchos and Melicertes. Zeus, who once begot Zagreus on Persephoneia in the shape of a dragon, watches her bathe and is caught by desire for her.
5. Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 6.86–206Book 6: Astraios' oracle; the Titans kill ZagreusAstraios foretells a secret ravisher in the shape of a dragon, but also fruit for Demeter's gift of corn. Demeter hides her daughter in a cave in Sicily, guarded by dragons and her nurse. Persephoneia, weaving, sings of how Zeus came to her as a dragon and how the Titans killed their child Zagreus, who changed through many shapes before he fell as a bull.
6. Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 39.0–129Book 39: The fleet arrives; Deriades and Dionysos address their menThe ships built by the Rhadamanes arrive, and Deriades, alarmed but defiant, calls up a fleet from his islands. He argues that Dionysos is no god, since a son of Zeus would not fight with leaves and fawnskin. Dionysos answers by naming his allies in the sea and among the winds, and tells his captains to attack before the Indians can use fire against the ships.
7. Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 47.0–115Book 47: Dionysos in Attica gives wine to IcariosAthens breaks into dance as Dionysos arrives in Attica, and the vines and flowers spring up everywhere. The god visits the old gardener Icarios, whose daughter Erigone is drawing goat's milk, and gives him wine. Icarios admires the new drink and shares it with his neighbours, and the countrymen drink it neat until they reel.