# Bacchus — The Lusiads character guide

> Bacchus in The Lusiads by Luís de Camões.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Father Bacchus, Father

**First appearance:** 0005-canto-i

## Snapshot

The wine-god turned jealous saboteur, who cannot bear that Portuguese sailors might win the glory he once claimed for his own East.

## Who they are

Bacchus opposes the voyage because Portugal's fame threatens to eclipse his ancient honours in the lands he calls his own. He works through mortal agents and divine cunning, stirring hostility wherever the fleet touches shore. His vanity and wounded pride make him the poem's engine of obstruction, a god whose resentment gives the heroes something worthy to overcome.

## Relationships

### [Cupid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lusiads_se/characters/cupid)

_rivalry_

Bacchus and Cupid are antagonists, each working against the other's schemes in the epic's divine conflicts.

### [Monsaydé](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lusiads_se/characters/monsayde)

_rivalry_

Bacchus and Monsaydé are adversaries, with Bacchus attempting to thwart Monsaydé's efforts to aid Vasco da Gama.

### [Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lusiads_se/characters/mars)

_rivalry_

Bacchus and Mars are rivals, often clashing over divine influence and the outcome of mortal conflicts.

### [Cupid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lusiads_se/characters/cupid)

_rivalry_

Bacchus and Cupid are antagonists, each working against the other's schemes in the epic's divine conflicts.

### [Monsaydé](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lusiads_se/characters/monsayde)

_rivalry_

Bacchus and Monsaydé are adversaries, with Bacchus attempting to thwart Monsaydé's efforts to aid Vasco da Gama.

## In the story

### [Canto I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lusiads_se/chapters/canto-i)

The god who opposes the Portuguese expedition, vowing to thwart their success and inciting the Moors against them.

### [Canto II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lusiads_se/chapters/canto-ii)

The demon who instigates the King of Mombasah to plot against the Portuguese, seeking to destroy them.

### [Canto VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lusiads_se/chapters/canto-vi)

Descends to Neptune's palace and incites the sea-gods to destroy the Portuguese fleet.

### [Manuscript No. I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lusiads_se/chapters/manuscript-no-i)

Descends to Earth in disguise to sow discord against the Portuguese, appearing as a Moor to the Shaykh.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lusiads_se/characters/bacchus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lusiads_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lusiads_se/characters