Liknitan Bacchus [Liknitos Dionysos], bearer of the vine,
thee I invoke to bless these rites divine:
This is one of the longer Orphic Hymns honoring Dionysus (although there are more honoring him than there are for any other God). This is one that hints at the myth of Dionysus being the son of Persephone instead of being a demigod who attained full godhood. No matter his birth however, Dionysus is called a “blessed power” and accorded “rites divine”.
This hymn is one that calls forth the image of him as the leader of the dance, the lord of celebrations. He leads a procession of nymphs through the woods “with lightly leaping feet” and as bearer of the vine it can be safely assumed that the Orphic view honored him as the god of wine and as a bringer of happiness.
Other Orphic Hymns in his honor tell other parts of his story, so I will be writing more on some of those in the future.