(Διονύσια; Dionýsia). Term for the festival of Dionysus, characteristic for the cult of Dionysus in many Greek poleis; the Dionysia often took place in the winter months.
(1) In Athens, the Dionysia were a part of a cycle of festivals extending over four winter months, which started with the rural Dionysia (τὰ κατ' ἄγρους Δ., in the month of Poseideon), was followed by the Lenaea (month of Gamelion) and the Anthesteria (month of Anthesterion), and culminated in the urban or Great Dionysia (τά ἐν ἄστει Δ., …