ZEITGEIST: THE MOVIE

claiming he was killed by a hunter while sitting under a tree, the arrow penetrating his foot, much
like Christ having a nail driven through his feet. In this regard, there have been found in India
strange images of figures in cruciform with nail holes in their hands and feet, one of which was
identified by an Indian priest as possibly the god Wittoba, who is an incarnation of Krishna. 155
The impression of a resurrection is evident from the depiction of Krishna comforting his killer just after
death, before he has ascended into heaven. The point is that the god was once dead, but now he is alive
again, whether in this world or the afterlife. This type of detail does not suffice to undermine the fact of the
resurrection or raising up from death being a mythical motif in the first place, applicable both to Christ as
well as many other gods and legendary figures. 156
21. Dionysus of Greece, born of a virgin on December 25 th , was a traveling teacher
who performed miracles such as turning water into wine, he was referred to as the
“King of Kings,” “God’s Only Begotten Son,” “The Alpha and Omega,” and many
others, and upon his death, he was resurrected.
It is wise at this point to recall that in the ancient world many gods were confounded and compounded,
deliberately or otherwise. Some were even considered interchangeable, such as Osiris, Horus and Ra. In
this regard, Plutarch (35, 364E) states, ―Osiris is identical with Dionysus.‖ 157 Thus, Zeus‘s son Dionysus
or Bacchus was considered the Greek rendition of Osiris:
Dionysus became the universal savior-god of the ancient world. And there has never been
another like unto him: the first to whom his attributes were accredited, we call Osiris: with the
death of paganism, his central characteristics were assumed by Jesus Christ. 158
Dionysus is likewise identified with the god Aion and also referred to as ―Zeus Sabazius‖ in other
traditions. 159 Hence, we would expect him to share in at least some of all these gods‘ attributes.
Dionysus returns from India
Mosaic pavement, 3 rd cent. AD/CE
Sousse, Tunisia
(Patrick Hunt)
December 25 th (Winter Solstice): As with Jesus, December 25 th and January 6 th are both traditional birth
dates related to Dionysus and simply represent the period of the winter solstice. Concerning these dates,
Murdock remarks:
155 Murdock, RZC, 17.
156 For more information on the mythical motif of the resurrection, see Murdock, CIE, 402-420.
157 Plutarch/Babbitt, 85.
158 Larson, 82.
159 Graves, R., WG, 335.