The god of intoxication and revelry, Bacchus (Dionysis) roamed the countryside holding orgies. He was the son of Jupiter and a mortal, the Theban princess Semele. The Bacchanalia, a wild festival honoring him, celebrated March 16 and 17, was introduced in Rome around 200 BCE. Notorious for their sexual and criminal character, these festivals were forbidden in 186 BCE by the Roman Senate.

Ariadne had helped the Athenian hero Theseus escape the Labyrinth after he killed the Minotaur. King Minos was enraged not only because the Minotaur had been vanquished, but also because Theseus fled with Ariadne.

They paused after their flight to sleep on the shore of Naxos, and early the next morning Theseus abandoned Ariadne while she slept, to go home to is family, leaving Ariadne to the wiles of Bacchus. When she awoke, Ariadne saw the sails of Theseus' ship vanishing over the horizon, and Bacchus soon appeared and was overwhelmed by her youthful beauty.