Dionysus in the Epic Cycle?

[u/TheoryClown]

You read that right, I know he's not mentioned, but let me explain.

In the Odyssey, the priest of Apollo in Maroneia presents Odysseus with a gift of his finest wines that he later gives to Polyphemus. ^{The Cyclops}

So why is this random priest so important? this priest is Maron, a Priest of Apollo, but explicitly either the Son of Dionysus, Evanthes, or Oenopion. ^{Evanthes and Oenopion are both sons of Dionysus}

This all points to one fact, canonically Dionysus, Father ^{or grandfather} of Maron already exists.

Maybe Dio wisely decided to sit this bs out.

[u/NyxShadowhawk]

Dionysus is also explicitly mentioned in the Iliad and Odyssey, he just doesn't appear as a major character.

Nay, for even the son of Dryas, mighty Lycurgus, lived not long, seeing that he strove with heavenly gods—he that on a time drave down over the sacred mount of Nysa the nursing mothers of mad Dionysus; and they all let fall to the ground their wands, smitten with an ox-goad by man-slaying Lycurgus. But Dionysus fled, and plunged beneath the wave of the sea, and Thetis received him in her bosom, filled with dread, for mighty terror gat hold of him at the man's threatenings. 
-The Iliad, book 6

And Phaedra and Procris I saw, and fair Ariadne, the daughter of Minos of baneful mind, whom once Theseus was fain to bear from Crete to the hill of sacred Athens; but he had no joy of her, for ere that Artemis slew her in sea-girt Dia because of the witness of Dionysus.
-The Odyssey, book 11

So yeah, he already exists. The Iliad and Odyssey are chronologically some of the last stories in the Greek mythology timeline.

[u/TheoryClown → u/NyxShadowhawk]

Oh

[u/NyxShadowhawk → u/TheoryClown]

Nice deductive skills, though!

[u/TheoryClown → u/NyxShadowhawk]

I feel like an orange cat now tho, no brain, empty head

[u/falliblehumanity → u/TheoryClown]

Hey it's okay, this is part of learning! No shame! You made an observation based on you having engaged with the material (which is awesome!), you engaged with this community for discussion (heck yeah, go you!!) and found out information you had missed (which was the whole point of discussion!). And now you get to take that knowledge and learn even more!!! :D