HUMA 1105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Euripides, Conifer Cone, Maenad
30 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
The bacchae were women followers of the god dionysus (in greek), or bacchus (in latin) Dionysus is a new/old god and is also called bromius/evius. Synonyms for the bacchae: maenads (mad women), bacchants, thyades (inspired) The bacchae"s symbol is the fennel stick or thyrus (a staff tipped with a pinecone with ivy and wine branches twined around it). They used the thyrus to bring milk, honey and wine out from the ground. This play shows the power and strength of gods, and how gods and mortals interact. Some people did not believe or worship dionysus because of his birth. He was born of semele (mortal) and zeus. He is a god of fluid (wine). Fluid represents change (because fluids take the shape of where they are placed) and his change is represented in this play. Zeus struck semele dead with lightning because he was already married and wanted no more of this affair.
