Classical Studies 2200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Peloponnesian War, Euripides, Lightning
24 Aug 2016
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Document Summary
A sign of disorder fall of a royal household: indicated by strong female character. Many of the plays we read are help during the festival of dionysus, but they exclude him. Cadmus is looking for europa(sister) and asks an oracle. Oracle says he will establish a city on greek soil: city of thebes. He must slay a dragon (common motif), sew its teeth into the ground: they fight each other until 5 are left. These men are the founders of the 5 families of thebes. Cadmus marries harmonia (ares + aphrodite) and they have 4 daughters: ino, autonoe, Semele, agave: marry into the 4 families. Semele sleeps with zeus (kills her by revealing himself in his true form lightning bolt) Zeus sews the embryo into his thigh and gives birth to dionysus. Cadmus had no children, so he passes his rule to pentheus (big age gap) Pentheus is very immature and strict (young ruler)
