The basis of the cultural heritage of man is the myths of ancient Greece and ancient Rome. How often people in their speech mention Sisyphean labor, titanic efforts or panic horror. All these expressions came to the modern world from ancient Greek mythology. That is why it is very important to study literature created by poets and thinkers of the ancient world. One of the famous playwrights of the time is Euripides. Among his works there is an ancient Greek tragedy dedicated to Dionysus (that was the name of the god of winemaking). In his work, the playwright shows the life of the Greeks in the city of Thebes and their relationship with the gods. The play of Euripides “Bacchus” will be interesting to all those who are interested in history.
Biography of Euripides
The playwright was born in 480 BC on the island of Salamis. His birth coincided with the significant victory of the Greeks in the naval battle against the Persian king Xerxes, which occurred on September 23. However, many historians believe that the date of birth of Euripides was tied to the victory over the Persians for beauty, which was often done by ancient authors in the biography of great people.
The future playwright lived in a wealthy family, was engaged in sports and drawing, but could not get to the Olympic Games, since he was not suitable for age. Drawing classes also did not bring him much success. The young man received a good education. His teachers were Socrates, Anaxagoras, Prodicus and Protagoras.
Initially, the playwright assembled a library of books, and later began to write plays himself. One of the first tragedies of Euripides is called Peliad. She was shown on stage in 455 BC. The playwright's family life was unsuccessful. He was married twice, but both of his wives were unfaithful in a married life. Thanks to this, Euripides became a woman hater. The comedian Aristophanes often made fun of the unfortunate playwright on this subject. The tragedy of Euripides "Bacchus" was written shortly before the death of the writer. Euripides died in 406 BC.
Who are the Bacchantes?
The basis of the work of "Bacchus" lay the myth of Dionysus. In ancient Roman mythology, Dionysus is called Bacchus, and his servants, maenads (translated "crazy"), respectively, are called Bacchantes. The tragedy of Bacchus by Euripides, written in Macedonia, was one of the last works of the playwright. Then in Athens she was introduced by the son of Euripides. She became the last play of the golden age of the Athenian tragedy.
Greek city of Thebes
The tragedy of Euripides takes place in Thebes. It was the main city in central Greece. It was surrounded by a wall with seven gates. The founder of Thebes is the mythological king Cadmus, who was the grandson of the god Poseidon (father). Harmony became the wife of Cadmus. This is the daughter of Ares and the goddess of love Aphrodite. Their wedding was gorgeous. It was attended by all the Olympic gods. One of the daughters of Cadmus and Harmony was Semele, who became the mother of the god Dionysus. However, some did not consider him as such. Consider what this god was like.
Origin of Dionysus
Dionysus was the son of Zeus and Semele. Zeus fell in love with the young daughter of Cadmus and promised, swearing by the waters of Styx, that he would fulfill any of her wishes. The wife of Zeus Hera hated her lover's husband and decided to get rid of her. She advised Semele to experience the love of Zeus and ask him to appear before her in all the splendor of the God of the Romance. Pledged by an oath, Zeus was obliged to fulfill this desire of Semela. The unfortunate woman could not bear the divine fire and died in it, but dying, she managed to give birth to a son.
Little Dionysus almost died in the fire, like his mother, but Zeus managed to protect his son from the flame, enveloping the boy in green ivy. The child was very weak. To save his life, Zeus sewed his son in his thigh. When the boy was strong, he was born a second time from his father's hip.
Raising a Young God
After the second birth of his son, Zeus decides to send him to the education of Ino. This is the sister of Semela. He calls Hermes, and orders to carry little Dionysos to the family of Ino and her husband Atamant. But the angry Hera prevented this plan of Zeus. Having sent madness to Atamant, she destroys his entire family. Hermes manages to save the little god and transfers him to the education of the nymphs. They took care of the boy and raised him as a beautiful and powerful god who gives people joy, fun and fertility.
Holidays Dionysus
The matured god Dionysus became a real handsome. He loved to walk around his retinue around the world. Such a story is known about him: Dionysus leads the festive procession, on his head he has a wreath of vines, and in his hand is a thyrsus (wooden rod) decorated with ivy. He is accompanied by maenads and satires, singing songs and spinning in dances. Behind everyone, the teacher Dionysus, old Silenus, is being taken on a donkey. He was so drunk that he was about to fall from the donkey. To the music of flutes and tympans, there is a noisy crowd in the mountains and fields, subordinating to their power all those who are met on the way.
But not everyone falls so easily under the power of the god of winemaking. Many are trying to resist. Once, King Lycurgus attacked the feast of Dionysus, for which he paid with sight. So Zeus punished him, taking revenge for his son. Another time in the city of Orchomen, the priest of the god of winemaking called all the girls for a holiday dedicated to Dionysus. The daughters of King Minius did not recognize Dionysus as a god and refused to take part in festivities. They are in their home and engaged in needlework. After sunset, the sounds of flutes and flutes spilled across the halls of Minia's palace. The yarn from which the girls wove turned into a vine, and looms sprouted with green ivy. The halls filled with wild animals. The princesses were turned into bats, which in fear flew out of the palace.
King Midas and Dionysus
Once during the next walks in the woods, old Silenus lagged behind the noisy retinue of Dionysus and got lost. He was found by locals and taken to King Midas. He immediately recognized in the old man the teacher of the god of winemaking. The king left him in his palace and entertained with rich feasts for nine days. Then Midas himself led the old man to Dionysus. For the honors shown to the teacher, the young god promised any reward that Midas wants to receive. The king asked to give him the ability to turn into gold any object that he touches. Dionysus fulfilled his promise.
Satisfied Midas returned to the palace. At first he rejoiced at the gift received and turned everything he saw into gold. Tired and hungry, Midas decided to drink wine and eat fruit. But wine and fruits turned into gold in his mouth. Then the king understood what a terrible gift he received from Dionysus. In horror, he began to beg God to pick up his gift. Dionysos took pity on the unreasonable king and ordered to bathe in the waters of Pactol in order to wash away his gift, and also to wash everything that Midas inadvertently turned into gold. Since then, Pactol began to bring golden sand.
The tragedy of Bacchus
It is interesting to talk about the adventures of Dionysus, but back to the work of Bacchus. The actors in it are as follows:
- Cadmus is the founder of Thebes, a former Theban king.
- Pentheus is a young Theban king, grandson of Cadmus.
- Agave is the mother of Pentheus, daughter of Cadmus.
- Dionysus is the god of winemaking.
- Tiresias is a soothsayer.
- Servant of Pentheus.
- Shepherd.
- The servant is the messenger.
- Lydian Bacchanal Chorus.
Many will be interested in reading the tragedy of Euripides "Bacchus." The plot of the work in a few words:
Young Dionysus returns after wandering to Thebes' hometown. He wants to establish his cult here. King Pentheus considers the new cult immoral and does not want to recognize Dionysus as a god. The result of this struggle is the death of Pentheus.
A summary of Bacchanus by Euripides is given below.
The prologue of the work describes the origin and birth of Dionysus. His return to Thebes and the recollections of a young god about how unfairly the goddess Hera treated his mother, forcing Zeus to appear before her as a thunder god. Dionysus sees the grave of his mother, who is still smoking from heavenly fire, and thanks Cadmus for preserving the shrine of Semele. He entangles the grave with grapes.
Then he recalls his travels to different countries (in Persia, Phrygia, Asia and other lands), where he established his cult. Returning to Thebes, the young god deprives women of the city of reason, persuades them to abandon their families and go to Kiferon (a mountain range in Greece) to participate in orgies. King Pentheus does not want to accept the cult of the new god at Thebes. He does not recognize the divine origin of Dionysus, for which he threatens to give the king battle, leading an army of Bacchanas. The Lydian bacchanal choir praises the young Dionysos and advises ordinary mortals to take part in his festivals.
Action one
The blind diviner Tiresias appears on the scene, then the elderly Cadmus comes out. Both elders wear Bacchus clothing and green ivy jewelry. They discuss the holidays of Dionysus. Cadmus recognizes the young god as his grandson and intends to exalt him by dancing in a bacchic round dance. Tiresias supports Cadmus. They both come to the conclusion that their fun rejuvenated, gave fresh strength.
While Cadmus and Tiresias decide how they can quickly get to Kiferon, Pentheus enters the scene, but does not notice the old people. He is preoccupied with the behavior of the Thebans, who left the children at home and went for a walk while in Bacchic madness. Part of the escaped women Penfeuil managed to catch and imprison in prison. After the rest, he is going to Kiferon to catch them and shackle them in iron. The young king considers Dionysus a sorcerer and a deceiver.
Seeing Cadmus and Tiresias in Bacchic attire, Pentheus first taunts them, and then threatens Tiresias. He says that only old age saved him from prison for participating in orgies. The soothsayer believes that the king lacks intelligence since he does not want to honor the new god. He is sure that Dionysus gave ordinary people a remedy for all sorrows - a drink from the fruits of grapes. He advises Pentheus to humble himself, acknowledge God and join the dance. Cadmus supports the words of Tiresias and also persuades Pentheus. He reminds him that arguing with the gods is dangerous. But the king does not agree with the old people and drives them away from himself. He orders the servants to catch Dionysus and bring him to him. The Bacchanal Chorus portends an evil end to fools.
Action two
Servants lead to Pentheus Dionysus. They claim that the young man did not resist and allowed himself to be tied, but the captured Bacchantes miraculously freed themselves from prison and fled. Pentheus arranges the young man's interrogation, trying to find out who he is, where he came from from Thebes. Dionysus tells his story and describes to the king how his orgies pass. At the same time, he impersonates the minister of worship of the god of winemaking, and does not appear to be the god himself. Pentheus orders the servants to cast the impudent youth into prison. The Bacchanal Choir glorifies Dionysus and curses Pentheus.
Action Three
There is no one on stage. Underground blows are heard. On Semela’s grave a fire lights up. Then Dionysus leaves the palace. He explains to the bacchanal chorus that he laughed at Pentheus, since the royal servants tied the bull, and not him. Pentheus is confused, but is trying to catch Dionysus again. At this time, a shepherd comes from Kiferon. He tells Penpheus about the dances of the Bacchanas on the mountain. He also mentions how the shepherds tried to catch them, but the Bacchantes rushed to the shepherds, and when they fled, the women tore the flock to pieces with their bare hands. The shepherd sees this as divine help and asks the king to recognize the new god.
Pentheus expels the messenger, and Dionysus offers the king himself to look at the bacchanal. He persuades him to put on women's clothing and go to Kiferon. When the king agrees, Dionysus rejoices. He imagines what punishment will overtake Penfeus at the Bacchanas.
Actions Four and Fifth
Dionysus leads the king in a female robe to Kiferon through Thebes. He is looking forward to reprisals against Penpheus. Among the Bacchanas there is the king’s mother - the daughter of Cadmus Agave. The choir sings that it was she who was the first to notice Pentheus and take him for the son of a lioness. And so it happened.
A messenger comes from Kiferon and reports of the terrible death of Pentheus. His mother, whose mind is clouded by Dionysus, takes his son for a lion and, together with his friends, tears him to pieces. Agave puts the unfortunate head on a thyrsus, being fully confident that it is the head of a lion. With her prey, she goes to the palace of Pentheus.
Agave appears on stage with his trophy, a little later Cadmus comes on the scene, who brought the remains of Pentheus to the palace. Agave shows his prey to his father, from which Cadmus is horrified. He explains to his daughter who it really is. A veil of madness falls from Agave; she does not remember anything. Realizing that she killed her son, she sobs and tries to hug the remains.
Cadmus laments the misfortune that befell his family due to Pentheus's unwillingness to recognize Dionysus as a god. Agave asks God to take pity on them, but it is too late to lament. Cadmus and Agave go into exile.
Readers' Opinions
About the tragedy of Euripides "Bacchus" reader reviews are very mixed. Some consider this work informative and interesting, while others the plot of the tragedy is horrifying.
Everyone who is interested in Greek mythology must read the work of Euripides “Bacchus”. Many readers in the reviews write that this work is relevant today. It unusually vividly shows what terrible consequences drunkenness leads.
Almost all readers note that the work is written in a beautiful syllable, that it has a clear storyline, once again confirming how talented Euripides was.