The
Dionysia was a large
festival in ancient
Athens in honor of the god
Dionysus, the central events of which were the
theatrical performances of dramatic
tragedies and, from 487 BC,
comedies. It was the second-most important festival after the
Panathenaia. The Dionysia actually consisted of two related festivals, the
Rural Dionysia and the
City Dionysia, which took place in different parts of the year. They were also an essential part of the
Dionysian Mysteries.