# Liber — The City of God character guide

> Liber in The City of God by Augustine of Hippo.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Father, the Father, The Father, Father Liber

**First appearance:** 0002-part-i-book-i

## Who they are

Roman god of wine and fertility, often identified with Dionysus or Bacchus.

## Relationships

### [Abraham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/abraham)

_rivalry_

Abraham is contrasted with Liber, a pagan god of fertility and wine, to emphasize the purity of Abraham's faith.

### [Jesus Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/jesus_christ)

_rivalry_

Jesus Christ is opposed to Liber, a pagan god of excess, as Christ represents sobriety and divine truth versus pagan debauchery.

### [Jupiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/jupiter)

_social_

Jupiter and Liber are both pagan gods, often mentioned together as part of the Roman pantheon, but without deep interaction.

### [Jupiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/jupiter)

_social_

Jupiter and Liber are both pagan gods, often mentioned together as part of the Roman pantheon, but without deep interaction.

### [Jesus Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/jesus_christ)

_rivalry_

Jesus Christ is opposed to Liber, a pagan god of excess, as Christ represents sobriety and divine truth versus pagan debauchery.

### [Jesus Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/jesus_christ)

_rivalry_

Jesus Christ is opposed to Liber, a pagan god of excess, as Christ represents sobriety and divine truth versus pagan debauchery.

### [Jupiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/jupiter)

_social_

Jupiter and Liber are both pagan gods, often mentioned together as part of the Roman pantheon, but without deep interaction.

### [Abraham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/abraham)

_rivalry_

Abraham is contrasted with Liber, a pagan god of fertility and wine, to emphasize the purity of Abraham's faith.

### [Abraham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/abraham)

_rivalry_

Abraham is contrasted with Liber, a pagan god of fertility and wine, to emphasize the purity of Abraham's faith.

## In the story

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxii)

Cited as an example of a god from whom one should not seek water, according to Varro.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-i)

Mentioned as a god from whom wine is sought, illustrating the absurd division of divine duties.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-ix)

God associated with liberation and male seed; his rites are described as part of the Bacchanalian madness.

### [Concerning the more secret doctrine of the pagans, and concerning the physical interpretations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-v)

Pagan god associated with wine, used as an example of symbolic representation.

### [Concerning the shamefulness of the rites which are celebrated in honour of Liber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxi)

Pagan god of liquid seeds and wine, honored with obscene public rites.

### [Concerning the surnames of Tellus and their significations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxiv)

Mentioned in the context of the festival where a matron placed a wreath on a man's private parts.

### [Of the rituals of false gods instituted by the kings of Greece in the period from Israel’s exodus from Egypt down to the death of Joshua the son of Nun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xii)

Also called Dionysus, said to have shown the vine to his host in Attica and esteemed as a god after death.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xiii)

Liber is described as making war in India with an army of Bacchae, and some say he was conquered, bound, or slain in Persia.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/liber
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters