Ceremonial Dionysiac Phallus, Chalkis, 2nd. Century. BC. Fertility symbol used in Dionysiac festivals, processions and rituals.The Dionysia was originally a rural festival in Eleutherae, Attica, exported to but initially rejected by the Athenians for which Dionysus punished the Athenians with a plague affecting the male genitalia, cured when the Athenians accepted the cult of Dionysus. This was recalled each year by a procession of citizens carrying phalloi. In another tradition Dionysus, eagerly desiring to descend to Hades, did not know the way; a man, by name Prosymnus, offers to tell him, though not without reward. The reward was a disgraceful one, though not so in the opinion of Dionysus. In order to acquit himself of his promise to his lover, he rushes to his tomb, burning with unnatural lust, cut a fig-branch in the shape of the phallus, and performed his promise to the dead man.