The Bacchae
Also known as: Bacchae, The Bacchai, Bacchants, The Bacchae of Euripides
Dionysus arrives in Thebes to vindicate his divinity and punish the city’s impiety. He maddens the women, lures King Pentheus into spying on the Bacchants in disguise, and orchestrates his dismemberment by his own mother, Agave, before revealing himself and imposing a grim settlement on the royal house.
Description
Set before the palace of Thebes, the play dramatizes the advent of Dionysus, whose mother Semele was slandered and whose rites are rejected by King Pentheus. The god—appearing as a mortal stranger—summons a chorus of Asian Bacchants and entices the Theban women to Cithaeron. Cadmus and Teiresias, aged but pious, honor the god, while Pentheus resists, arrests Dionysus, and boasts of suppressing the cult. Wonders free the god from prison; news arrives of the Bacchants’ uncanny strength and peaceful wonders turned violent when attacked. Dionysus then seduces Pentheus into cross-dressing to spy on the maenads, exposing him to the ecstatic thiasos. In frenzy, Agave and the women perform sparagmos, mistaking Pentheus for a wild beast. The recognition scene returns Agave to sanity as she realizes she holds her son’s head. Dionysus reveals his identity, vindicates Semele, and pronounces exile and metamorphosis for the Theban house.
Historiography
The Bacchae survives through a robust medieval manuscript tradition, notably in the Laurentianus and related families, with ancient scholia preserving interpretive notes and staging details. Likely composed in Macedonia, it was posthumously produced in 405 BCE alongside other late plays and won first prize. The drama became central to ancient discussions of Dionysiac religion and later influenced Roman and Renaissance receptions of ecstatic cult, tragedy, and theodicy.
Date Notes
Composed late in Euripides’ career, likely during his stay in Macedonia; produced posthumously at the City Dionysia in 405 BCE by his son (or nephew) and awarded first prize.
Major Characters
- Dionysus
- Pentheus
- Agave
- Cadmus
- Tiresias
- Chorus of Bacchants
Myths
- Pentheus and the Advent of Dionysus
- The Sparagmos of Pentheus
- The Liberation of Theban Women
Facts
- Set in Thebes before the royal palace; much of the action refers to Mount Cithaeron.
- The chorus consists of Lydian Bacchae who accompany Dionysus to Greece.
- Cadmus and Teiresias are the only prominent Thebans who accept Dionysus openly.
- Pentheus imprisons Dionysus, who escapes through divine miracles that shake the palace.
- Pentheus is persuaded to cross-dress and spy on the Bacchants, enabling his downfall.
- Agave, in a frenzy, leads the maenads in tearing Pentheus limb from limb (sparagmos).
- The recognition scene centers on Agave realizing the ‘trophy’ is her son’s head.
- Dionysus’ epiphany frames the ending as divine retribution for impiety toward Semele and himself.
- Produced posthumously at the City Dionysia in 405 BCE, the play’s production won first prize.
- The Bacchae is one of the few extant Greek tragedies with a god as onstage protagonist throughout.