What is the theme of The Bacchae?

The play is sprinkled throughout with duality (oppositions, doubles and pairings), and opposite forces are major themes of the play: skepticism versus piety, reason versus irrationality, Greek versus foreign, male versus female/androgynous, civilization versus savagery/nature.

Why did Euripides write the Bacchae?

The Bacchae is a Greek tragedy written by the playwright Euripides (c. 484-406 BCE) in 407 BCE, which portrays Pentheus as an impious king, for the ruler of Thebes has denied the worship of Dionysus within his city walls. Cithaeron in order to worship Dionysus.

What does the word Bacchae mean?

1 : the female attendants or priestesses of Bacchus. 2 : the women participating in the Bacchanalia.

Who is Agave In The Bacchae?

The most tragic figure in the play, Agave is Pentheus’ mother and Cadmus’s daughter. She is entranced by Dionysus and becomes one of his followers, known as the Bacchae. The herdsman witnesses her killing and eating animals raw, and using her thyrsus to draw milk, honey, and wine from the ground.

What are the missing lines in Euripides Bacchae?

Th ere is an important gap of 50 lines or more in Euripides’ manuscript between lines 1329 and 1330 of the Greek text. Since the content of the missing lines is fairly well known, this translation has attempted to provide a reconstructed text for the missing portion.

Who are the bacchantes in the play Euripides?

Meanwhile, Dionysus has travelled throughout Asia gathering a cult of female worshippers (the Bacchae, or Bacchantes, of the title, who are the Chorus of the play), and has returned to his birthplace, Thebes, to take revenge on the ruling house of Cadmus for their refusal to worship him, and to vindicate his mother, Semele.

When was The Bacchae by Euripides first performed?

It was first performed a year after his death, at the City Dionysia in 405 BC, as part of a tetralogy that also included Iphigeneia in Aulis and Alcmaeon in Corinth. Directed by Euripides’ nephew—also named Euripides—the tetralogy won the first prize.

Who is the mother of Dionysus in the Bacchae Euripides?

The play begins with a prologue by the young god Dionysus, who explains the complicated circumstances of his birth. His human mother, Semele, became pregnant by Zeus, king of the gods.