Bacchantes

In his last days, Euripides wrote the tragedy Bacchantes, which was performed after his death in 405 B.C.. While living with King Archelaus of Macedon, Euripides became disillusioned with the corruption in Athens and the excesses of the fanatical Dionysian festivals.

The story takes place outside the palace of Thebes near the shrine of Semele, who gave birth to Dionysus after copulating with Zeus. Semele’s sisters have been driven mad by Dionysus because they claim that he is merely a mortal and not the son of Zeus. The women are all reveling in a drunken stupor caused by Dionysus. Among the women is Agave, the king’s mother, daughter of Cadmus, the prior king, and sister of Semele.

Pentheus, king of Thebes, is outraged at this display of excess and tries to stop the madness by arresting the women. The women miraculously escape from prison and Pentheus then has Dionysus arrested since he is causing the problem. Dionysus escapes and then leads Pentheus to the women, who are engaging in a wild sexual orgy in a secret spot in the forest. When Pentheus finds the women, Dionysus calls to them and tells them to attack Pentheus who is spying on them. The women attack him and tear him limb from limb, scattering the parts of his body all around.

Agave returns to the palace proudly holding the head of Pentheus, her son, thinking it is the head of a lion. When her father Cadmus sees what has happened, he has all the parts of Pentheus gathered and brought back to Thebes. He then convinces Agave that the head belongs to her son and not a lion. When she finally realizes what she has done, she is struck with horror and regret. The play ends with her being exiled from Thebes for her vicious crime. Dionysus has gotten his revenge on the two most outspoken critics of his deity.