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Tiresias: The Ancient Mediterranean Religions Source Database



5614
Euripides, Bacchae, 464-488


ἐντεῦθέν εἰμι, Λυδία δέ μοι πατρίς. ΠενθεύςI am from there, and Lydia is my fatherland. Pentheu


πόθεν δὲ τελετὰς τάσδʼ ἄγεις ἐς Ἑλλάδα; ΔιόνυσοςWhy do you bring these rites to Hellas ? Dionysu


Διόνυσος ἡμᾶς εἰσέβησʼ, ὁ τοῦ Διός. ΠενθεύςDionysus, the child of Zeus, sent me. Pentheu


Ζεὺς δʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖ τις, ὃς νέους τίκτει θεούς; ΔιόνυσοςIs there a Zeus who breeds new gods there? Dionysu


οὔκ, ἀλλʼ ὁ Σεμέλην ἐνθάδε ζεύξας γάμοις. ΠενθεύςNo, but the one who married Semele here. Pentheu


πότερα δὲ νύκτωρ σʼ ἢ κατʼ ὄμμʼ ἠνάγκασεν; ΔιόνυσοςDid he compel you at night, or in your sight? Dionysu


ὁρῶν ὁρῶντα, καὶ δίδωσιν ὄργια. ΠενθεύςSeeing me just as I saw him, he gave me sacred rites. Pentheu


τὰ δʼ ὄργιʼ ἐστὶ τίνʼ ἰδέαν ἔχοντά σοι; ΔιόνυσοςWhat appearance do your rites have? Dionysu


ἄρρητʼ ἀβακχεύτοισιν εἰδέναι βροτῶν. ΠενθεύςThey can not be told to mortals uninitiated in Bacchic revelry. Pentheu


ἔχει δʼ ὄνησιν τοῖσι θύουσιν τίνα; ΔιόνυσοςAnd do they have any profit to those who sacrifice? Dionysu


οὐ θέμις ἀκοῦσαί σʼ, ἔστι δʼ ἄξιʼ εἰδέναι. ΠενθεύςIt is not lawful for you to hear, but they are worth knowing. Pentheu


εὖ τοῦτʼ ἐκιβδήλευσας, ἵνʼ ἀκοῦσαι θέλω. ΔιόνυσοςYou have counterfeited this well, so that I desire to hear. Dionysu


ἀσέβειαν ἀσκοῦντʼ ὄργιʼ ἐχθαίρει θεοῦ. ΠενθεύςThe rites are hostile to whoever practices impiety. Pentheu


τὸν θεὸν ὁρᾶν γὰρ φῂς σαφῶς, ποῖός τις ἦν; ΔιόνυσοςAre you saying that you saw clearly what the god was like? Dionysu


ὁποῖος ἤθελʼ· οὐκ ἐγὼ ʼτασσον τόδε. ΠενθεύςHe was as he chose; I did not order this. Pentheu


τοῦτʼ αὖ παρωχέτευσας εὖ κοὐδὲν λέγων. ΔιόνυσοςAgain you diverted my question well, speaking mere nonsense. Dionysu


δόξει τις ἀμαθεῖ σοφὰ λέγων οὐκ εὖ φρονεῖν. ΠενθεύςOne will seem to be foolish if he speaks wisely to an ignorant man. Pentheu


ἦλθες δὲ πρῶτα δεῦρʼ ἄγων τὸν δαίμονα; ΔιόνυσοςDid you come here first, bringing the god? Dionysu


πᾶς ἀναχορεύει βαρβάρων τάδʼ ὄργια. ΠενθεύςAll the barbarians celebrate these rites. Pentheu


φρονοῦσι γὰρ κάκιον Ἑλλήνων πολύ. ΔιόνυσοςYes, for they are far more foolish than Hellenes. Dionysu


τάδʼ εὖ γε μᾶλλον· οἱ νόμοι δὲ διάφοροι. ΠενθεύςIn this at any rate they are wiser; but their laws are different. Pentheu


τὰ δʼ ἱερὰ νύκτωρ ἢ μεθʼ ἡμέραν τελεῖς; ΔιόνυσοςDo you perform the rites by night or by day? Dionysu


νύκτωρ τὰ πολλά· σεμνότητʼ ἔχει σκότος. ΠενθεύςMostly by night; darkness conveys awe. Pentheu


τοῦτʼ ἐς γυναῖκας δόλιόν ἐστι καὶ σαθρόν. ΔιόνυσοςThis is treacherous towards women, and unsound. Dionysu


κἀν ἡμέρᾳ τό γʼ αἰσχρὸν ἐξεύροι τις ἄν. ΠενθεύςEven during the day someone may devise what is shameful. Pentheu


Intertexts (texts cited often on the same page as the searched text):

11 results
1. Hymn To Dionysus, To Dionysus, 7.14 (8th cent. BCE - 6th cent. BCE)

7.14. whom he called to him by their names, and commended them before the company, and rejoiced in them in the same manner as a man would have rejoiced in his own exploits. He also put on their heads crowns of gold, and golden ornaments about their necks, and gave them long spears of gold, and ensigns that were made of silver 7.14. for many of them were so made, that they were on three or even four stories, one above another. The magnificence also of their structure afforded one both pleasure and surprise;
2. Euripides, Bacchae, 115-119, 13-19, 220, 233, 247, 255-258, 330-431, 435-463, 465-488, 490, 618-619, 769, 894, 921-922, 100 (5th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)

100. τέλεσαν, ταυρόκερων θεὸν 100. had perfected him, the bull-horned god, and he crowned him with crowns of snakes, for which reason Maenads cloak their wild prey over their locks. Choru
3. Euripides, Hippolytus, 444-446, 443 (5th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)

4. Sophocles, Ajax, 52-54, 51 (5th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)

5. Sophocles, Oedipus The King, 388, 387 (5th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)

6. Aristotle, Politics, None (4th cent. BCE - 4th cent. BCE)

7. Diodorus Siculus, Historical Library, 4.3.2 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)

4.3.2.  And the Boeotians and other Greeks and the Thracians, in memory of the campaign in India, have established sacrifices every other year to Dionysus, and believe that at that time the god reveals himself to human beings.
8. Pausanias, Description of Greece, 10.4.2-10.4.3 (2nd cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)

10.4.2. A survey of the ancient circuit of Panopeus led me to guess it to be about seven stades. I was reminded of Homer's verses about Tityos, See Hom. Od. 11.581 where he mentions the city of Panopeus with its beautiful dancing-floors, and how in the fight over the body of Patroclus he says that Schedius, son of Iphitus and king of the Phocians, who was killed by Hector, lived in Panopeus. See Hom. Il. 17.307 foll. It seemed to me that the reason why the king lived here was fear of the Boeotians; at this point is the easiest pass from Boeotia into Phocis, so the king used Panopeus as a fortified post. 10.4.3. The former passage, in which Homer speaks of the beautiful dancing-floors of Panopeus, I could not understand until I was taught by the women whom the Athenians call Thyiads. The Thyiads are Attic women, who with the Delphian women go to Parnassus every other year and celebrate orgies in honor of Dionysus. It is the custom for these Thyiads to hold dances at places, including Panopeus, along the road from Athens . The epithet Homer applies to Panopeus is thought to refer to the dance of the Thyiads.
9. Epigraphy, Ogis, 383

10. Heraclitus Lesbius, Fragments, 102

11. Strabo, Geography, 11.14.16

11.14.16. Now the sacred rites of the Persians, one and all, are held in honor by both the Medes and the Armenians; but those of Anaitis are held in exceptional honor by the Armenians, who have built sanctuaries in her honor in different places, and especially in Acilisene. Here they dedicate to her service male and female slaves. This, indeed, is not a remarkable thing; but the most illustrious men of the tribe actually consecrate to her their daughters while maidens; and it is the custom for these first to be prostituted in the sanctuary of the goddess for a long time and after this to be given in marriage; and no one disdains to live in wedlock with such a woman. Something of this kind is told also by Herodotus in his account of the Lydian women, who, one and all, he says, prostitute themselves. And they are so kindly disposed to their paramours that they not only entertain them hospitably but also exchange presents with them, often giving more than they receive, inasmuch as the girls from wealthy homes are supplied with means. However, they do not admit any man that comes along, but preferably those of equal rank with themselves.


Subjects of this text:

subject book bibliographic info
aizanoi Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
ajax Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 320
akilisene Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
amazons Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
anger (orgē) Michalopoulos et al. (2021), The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature, 221
antithesis Michalopoulos et al. (2021), The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature, 221
anāhitā,goddess Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
apameia in phrygia Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
aphrodite,as both sweet and ferocious Pucci (2016), Euripides' Revolution Under Cover: An Essay, 165
armenia/armenians Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
artemis Pucci (2016), Euripides' Revolution Under Cover: An Essay, 165
athens,athenian Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317
bacchus Michalopoulos et al. (2021), The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature, 221
bellerophon Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 320
cattle Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 320
chorus,in drama Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
crete Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
cult,cultic acts for specific cults, the corresponding god or place Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317
cult Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
dionysos,dionysos as foreign god Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317
dionysos,dionysos xenos Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317, 320
dionysos Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317, 320; Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
dionysus Michalopoulos et al. (2021), The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature, 221
fear Michalopoulos et al. (2021), The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature, 221
gender,female Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
gender,male Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
helios,sun god Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
heracles Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 320
hesiod,poet Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
homeric Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 320
initiation,initiatory rites Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317
inscriptions,propitiatory Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
isis,goddess Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
kingdom of mithridates,hierodulia Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
laodikeia on lykos Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
lycia/lycians,gods Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
lycurgus Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
lydia,lydian Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317
lydia/lydians,religion Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
lydia Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
lysander the lacedaemonian Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 320
ma-enyo,goddess Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
maenads Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
mania / madness Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
mania μανία,maniacal Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317, 320
mimetic hymns,callimachus Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
mother goddess,hipta Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
mycenaean age Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
myth,mythical Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 320
myth Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
neolithic/chalcolithic age (ca. Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
nollé,johannes Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
odysseus Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 320
oedipus Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317
ortygia,grove Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
osiris,god Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
painting,vase Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
peloponnese Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
pentheus Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317, 320; Michalopoulos et al. (2021), The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature, 221
philosophy Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 320
polis Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317
priest,priesthood Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317
prophet,prophetic Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317
prostitution,sacred Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
ptolemaios i soter Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
reality Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
religion,gods,cults,and shrines Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
rite,ritual Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317
ritual Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
sarapis,god Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
semele,mother of dionysos Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
sparagmos Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118; Pucci (2016), Euripides' Revolution Under Cover: An Essay, 165
spectacle,theater asa Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
temple,anāhitā in akilisene Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
temple slavery/servants (hierodulia/hieroduloi),in the provinces of the imperial period Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
thebes,theban Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 317
thrace Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
tmolos,mountain Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
violence/violent' Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 320
war Michalopoulos et al. (2021), The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature, 221
women Michalopoulos et al. (2021), The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature, 221
zeus,birth of Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
zeus,helios Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
zeus,sabazios Marek (2019), In the Land of a Thousand Gods: A History of Asia Minor in the Ancient World, 517
zeus Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118
ōmophagia Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 118