Dionysus is the god associated with the vine, winemaking, ritual madness, religious ecstasy and theatre. He was one of the most celebrated and adored deities of the ancient Greek pantheon and was equally beloved by the Romans, who called him Bacchus. His cult appears to be ancient in origin, with evidence suggesting he was worshiped among the Minoans and the Mycenaeans. His name has been found on Linear B tablets dated to the 13th century BCE. He became remarkably popular during the 6th and 5th centuries BCE and his cult expanded throughout the Greek world.