THE BACCHAE

ARISTOTELIAN THEATRE

Opsis look Lexis word Ethos character Melos sound Mythos story Dianoia meaning/theme

EURIPIDES

485-406 Wrote 95 plays, of which 19 survive Less popular—won the Festival only 4 times The Bacchae performed posthumously Rumors about late life

Exiled to Salamis Wrote last plays in cave Killed by dogs in Macedonia

INNOVATIONS

Ekkyklema—wheeled platform to change scenes More emphasis on women, foreigners and slaves

—topics excluded in the Aristotelian model of tragedy

Sensational events, stories Gained popularity after his death, in 4th century Influence on New Comedy

CULT OF DIONYSOS

Said to originate in Asia Minor (but that’s unlikely)

Grew wildly in late 5th century Popular among women, slaves, and

foreigners Secret rites—like Eleusinian mysteries,

which celebrated Demeter

CULT PRACTICES Seasonal Celebrations, one at the Winter Solstice,

one at the Vernal Equinox

Fertility festivals, observing death and rebirth

Wine as sacrament Embodiment of the living god Literally taking the god into the body

Officiants were called Maenads, women in a trance-like state induced by wine

Thyrsus Wand Symbol of Initiation Staff of giant fennel with a

pine cone on top Sparagmos Omophagia

DIONYSOS Thebes founded by CADMUS, Phoenecian prince

Brought alphabet to Greeks Killed dragon and sowed the teeth; teeth became

soldiers; soldiers killed each other until the last few helped him build the city

His daughter, Semele, loved by Zeus Hera, jealous, tricks her into insisting he

come in his natural form In the ensuing incineration, Dionysos

gets inserted into Zeus’ thigh

POWERS Grape vine Growing things Wine Intoxication Flowing things (blood) Theatre Visions, hallucinations, illusions Boundaries and Transformations