Acetes

In Greek mythology, Acetes (from Latin Ăcoetēs from ancient Greek Ἀκοίτης) was the pilot of a pirate ship who defended a drunken youth on board against the violence of the crew because he thought the young man might be the god Dionysus; As they were about to throw him off the ship, he revealed himself as Dionysus. The ship stopped its forward motion, grapes vines grew up the rigging, and the god stood crowned with grapes, holding his staff, the thyrsus (it has a pine cone on the top and is wrapped with vines and ivy leaves), and he was surrounded by wild cats (panthers, tigers). The sailors jumped into the sea and were transformed into dolphins. Acetes continued on his journey with Dionysus. [Howe and Harrer. "A Handbook of Classical Mythology". Oracle, 1996 (Originally published in 1931).]

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