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Dionysus wanted desperately to go down to Hades, but he did not know the way. Someone named Prosymnus promised to tell him how to go, but in exchange for pay, pay that was not pretty, though it was pretty for Dionysus; the favor asked was erotic, the requested pay was Dionysus himself. The god willingly heard the request, promised to respond if he returned from the underworld, and confirmed his promise with an oath. Informed of the path, he set off. When he came back Prosymnus, who had died, was nowhere to be found. To pay his sacred debt to his lover, Dionysus went to his tomb and underwent intercourse. He cut the branch of a fig tree that happened to grow there, carved it to resemble the male member, sat on it and thus fulfilled his promise to the dead man. In the various cities phalli are dedicated to Dionysus as a mystic memorial of this event.
-- Clement of Alexander
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