Tiresias: The Ancient Mediterranean Religions Source Database

5614

Euripides, Bacchae, 748-772

χωροῦσι δʼ ὥστʼ ὄρνιθες ἀρθεῖσαι δρόμῳ

dragged down by countless young hands. The garment of flesh was torn apart faster then you could blink your royal eyes. And like birds raised in their course, they proceeded along the level plains, which by the streams of the Asopu

πεδίων ὑποτάσεις, αἳ παρʼ Ἀσωποῦ ῥοαῖς

εὔκαρπον ἐκβάλλουσι Θηβαίων στάχυν·

produce the bountiful Theban crop. And falling like soldiers upon Hysiae and Erythrae, towns situated below the rock of Kithairon, they turned everything upside down. They were snatching children from their homes;

Ὑσιάς τʼ Ἐρυθράς θʼ, αἳ Κιθαιρῶνος λέπας

νέρθεν κατῳκήκασιν, ὥστε πολέμιοι

ἐπεσπεσοῦσαι πάντʼ ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω

διέφερον· ἥρπαζον μὲν ἐκ δόμων τέκνα·

ὁπόσα δʼ ἐπʼ ὤμοις ἔθεσαν, οὐ δεσμῶν ὕπο

and whatever they put on their shoulders, whether bronze or iron, was not held on by bonds, nor did it fall to the ground. They carried fire on their locks, but it did not burn them. Some people in rage took up arms, being plundered by the Bacchae

προσείχετʼ οὐδʼ ἔπιπτεν ἐς μέλαν πέδον

οὐ χαλκός, οὐ σίδηρος· ἐπὶ δὲ βοστρύχοις

πῦρ ἔφερον, οὐδʼ ἔκαιεν. οἳ δʼ ὀργῆς ὕπο

ἐς ὅπλʼ ἐχώρουν φερόμενοι βακχῶν ὕπο·

οὗπερ τὸ δεινὸν ἦν θέαμʼ ἰδεῖν, ἄναξ.

and the sight of this was terrible to behold, lord. For their pointed spears drew no blood, but the women, hurling the thyrsoi from their hands, kept wounding them and turned them to flight—women did this to men, not without the help of some god.

τοῖς μὲν γὰρ οὐχ ᾕμασσε λογχωτὸν βέλος

κεῖναι δὲ θύρσους ἐξανιεῖσαι χερῶν

ἐτραυμάτιζον κἀπενώτιζον φυγῇ

γυναῖκες ἄνδρας, οὐκ ἄνευ θεῶν τινος.

πάλιν δʼ ἐχώρουν ὅθεν ἐκίνησαν πόδα

And they returned where they had come from, to the very fountains which the god had sent forth for them, and washed off the blood, and snakes cleaned the drops from the women’s cheeks with their tongues.Receive this god then, whoever he is

κρήνας ἐπʼ αὐτὰς ἃς ἀνῆκʼ αὐταῖς θεός.

νίψαντο δʼ αἷμα, σταγόνα δʼ ἐκ παρηίδων

γλώσσῃ δράκοντες ἐξεφαίδρυνον χροός.

nan	And they returned where they had come from, to the very fountains which the god had sent forth for them, and washed off the blood, and snakes cleaned the drops from the women’s cheeks with their tongues.Receive this god then, whoever he is

δέχου πόλει τῇδʼ· ὡς τά τʼ ἄλλʼ ἐστὶν μέγας

into this city, master. For he is great in other respects, and they say this too of him, as I hear, that he gives to mortals the vine that puts an end to grief. Without wine there is no longer Aphrodite or any other pleasant thing for men. Chorus Leader

κἀκεῖνό φασιν αὐτόν, ὡς ἐγὼ κλύω

τὴν παυσίλυπον ἄμπελον δοῦναι βροτοῖς.

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

14 results

1. Homer, Iliad, 6.130-6.140 (8th cent. BCE - 7th cent. BCE)

6.130. /Nay, for even the son of Dryas, mighty Lycurgus, lived not long, seeing that he strove with heavenly gods—he that on a time drave down over the sacred mount of Nysa the nursing mothers of mad Dionysus; and they all let fall to the ground their wands, smitten with an ox-goad by man-slaying Lycurgus. 6.131. /Nay, for even the son of Dryas, mighty Lycurgus, lived not long, seeing that he strove with heavenly gods—he that on a time drave down over the sacred mount of Nysa the nursing mothers of mad Dionysus; and they all let fall to the ground their wands, smitten with an ox-goad by man-slaying Lycurgus. 6.132. /Nay, for even the son of Dryas, mighty Lycurgus, lived not long, seeing that he strove with heavenly gods—he that on a time drave down over the sacred mount of Nysa the nursing mothers of mad Dionysus; and they all let fall to the ground their wands, smitten with an ox-goad by man-slaying Lycurgus. 6.133. /Nay, for even the son of Dryas, mighty Lycurgus, lived not long, seeing that he strove with heavenly gods—he that on a time drave down over the sacred mount of Nysa the nursing mothers of mad Dionysus; and they all let fall to the ground their wands, smitten with an ox-goad by man-slaying Lycurgus. 6.134. /Nay, for even the son of Dryas, mighty Lycurgus, lived not long, seeing that he strove with heavenly gods—he that on a time drave down over the sacred mount of Nysa the nursing mothers of mad Dionysus; and they all let fall to the ground their wands, smitten with an ox-goad by man-slaying Lycurgus. 6.135. /But Dionysus fled, and plunged beneath the wave of the sea, and Thetis received him in her bosom, filled with dread, for mighty terror gat hold of him at the man's threatenings. Then against Lycurgus did the gods that live at ease wax wroth, and the son of Cronos made him blind; 6.136. /But Dionysus fled, and plunged beneath the wave of the sea, and Thetis received him in her bosom, filled with dread, for mighty terror gat hold of him at the man's threatenings. Then against Lycurgus did the gods that live at ease wax wroth, and the son of Cronos made him blind; 6.137. /But Dionysus fled, and plunged beneath the wave of the sea, and Thetis received him in her bosom, filled with dread, for mighty terror gat hold of him at the man's threatenings. Then against Lycurgus did the gods that live at ease wax wroth, and the son of Cronos made him blind; 6.138. /But Dionysus fled, and plunged beneath the wave of the sea, and Thetis received him in her bosom, filled with dread, for mighty terror gat hold of him at the man's threatenings. Then against Lycurgus did the gods that live at ease wax wroth, and the son of Cronos made him blind; 6.139. /But Dionysus fled, and plunged beneath the wave of the sea, and Thetis received him in her bosom, filled with dread, for mighty terror gat hold of him at the man's threatenings. Then against Lycurgus did the gods that live at ease wax wroth, and the son of Cronos made him blind; 6.140. /and he lived not for long, seeing that he was hated of all the immortal gods. So would not I be minded to fight against the blessed gods. But if thou art of men, who eat the fruit of the field, draw nigh, that thou mayest the sooner enter the toils of destruction. Then spake to him the glorious son of Hippolochus:

2. Anacreon, Fragments, 357 (6th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)

3. Anacreon, Fragments, 357 (6th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)

4. Aristophanes, Frogs, 355-357, 354 (5th cent. BCE - 4th cent. BCE)

354. εὐφημεῖν χρὴ κἀξίστασθαι τοῖς ἡμετέροισι χοροῖσιν

5. Aristophanes, The Women Celebrating The Thesmophoria, 985-1000 (5th cent. BCE - 4th cent. BCE)

1000. εὐπέταλος ἕλικι θάλλει.

6. Euripides, Bacchae, 1000-1009, 101, 1010-1019, 102, 1020-1023, 1025-1026, 1029, 103, 1030-1039, 104, 1040, 1043-1049, 105, 1050-1059, 106, 1060-1069, 107, 1070-1079, 108, 1080-1089, 109, 1090-1099, 110, 1100-1109, 111, 1110-1119, 112, 1120-1129, 113, 1130-1139, 114, 1140-1149, 115, 1150-1152, 116-123, 1233, 124-167, 208, 31-40, 443-450, 453-459, 576-639, 64, 640-647, 65, 652, 66, 667, 67, 677-679, 68, 680-689, 69, 690-699, 70, 700-709, 71, 710-719, 72, 720-729, 73, 730-739, 74, 740-747, 749, 75, 750-759, 76, 760-769, 77, 770-774, 78-91, 918-919, 92, 920-929, 93, 930-939, 94, 940-949, 95, 950-959, 96, 960-969, 97, 970-979, 98, 980-989, 99, 990-999, 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

7. Euripides, Helen, 1302-1368, 1301 (5th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)

1301. ̓Ορεία ποτὲ δρομάδι κώ-

1301. Once with swift foot the mountain mother of the gods rushed through the wooded glen, and the river’s stream

8. Euripides, Ion, 1204-1206, 1203 (5th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)

9. Plato, Phaedrus, None (5th cent. BCE - 4th cent. BCE)

247a. He is followed by an army of gods and spirits, arrayed in eleven squadrons; Hestia alone remains in the house of the gods. of the rest, those who are included among the twelve great gods and are accounted leaders, are assigned each to his place in the army. There are many blessed sights and many ways hither and thither within the heaven, along which the blessed gods go to and fro attending each to his own duties; and whoever wishes, and is able, follows, for jealousy is excluded from the celestial band. But when they go to a feast and a banquet

10. Sophocles, Antigone, 1116-1152, 1115 (5th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)

11. Theocritus, Idylls, 26 (4th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)

12. Diodorus Siculus, Historical Library, 4.3.3 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)

4.3.3. Consequently in many Greek cities every other year Bacchic bands of women gather, and it is lawful for the maidens to carry the thyrsus and to join in the frenzied revelry, crying out "Euai!" and honouring the god; while the matrons, forming in groups, offer sacrifices to the god and celebrate his mysteries and, in general, extol with hymns the presence of Dionysus, in this manner acting the part of the Maenads who, as history records, were of old the companions of the god.

13. Plutarch, Camillus, 5.2 (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)

5.2. From the sacred rites used in the worship of this goddess, she might be held to be almost identical with Leucothea. The women bring a serving-maid into the sanctuary and beat her with rods, then drive her forth again; they embrace their nephews and nieces in preference to their own children; and their conduct at the sacrifice resembles that of the nurses of Dionysus, or that of Ino under the afflictions put upon her by her husband’s concubine. After his vows, Camillus invaded the country of the Faliscans and conquered them in a great battle, together with the Capenates who came up to their aid.

14. Augustine, The City of God, 7.21 (4th cent. CE - 5th cent. CE)

7.21. Now as to the rites of Liber, whom they have set over liquid seeds, and therefore not only over the liquors of fruits, among which wine holds, so to speak, the primacy, but also over the seeds of animals:- as to these rites, I am unwilling to undertake to show to what excess of turpitude they had reached, because that would entail a lengthened discourse, though I am not unwilling to do so as a demonstration of the proud stupidity of those who practise them. Among other rites which I am compelled from the greatness of their number to omit, Varro says that in Italy, at the places where roads crossed each other the rites of Liber were celebrated with such unrestrained turpitude, that the private parts of a man were worshipped in his honor. Nor was this abomination transacted in secret that some regard at least might be paid to modesty, but was openly and wantonly displayed. For during the festival of Liber this obscene member, placed on a car, was carried with great honor, first over the crossroads in the country, and then into the city. But in the town of Lavinium a whole month was devoted to Liber alone, during the days of which all the people gave themselves up to the must dissolute conversation, until that member had been carried through the forum and brought to rest in its own place; on which unseemly member it was necessary that the most honorable matron should place a wreath in the presence of all the people. Thus, forsooth, was the god Liber to be appeased in order to the growth of seeds. Thus was enchantment to be driven away from fields, even by a matron's being compelled to do in public what not even a harlot ought to be permitted to do in a theatre, if there were matrons among the spectators. For these reasons, then, Saturn alone was not believed to be sufficient for seeds - namely, that the impure mind might find occasions for multiplying the gods; and that, being righteously abandoned to uncleanness by the one true God, and being prostituted to the worship of many false gods, through an avidity for ever greater and greater uncleanness, it should call these sacrilegious rites sacred things, and should abandon itself to be violated and polluted by crowds of foul demons.

Subjects of this text:

subject	book bibliographic info
agamemnon,death of	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 375
agave	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141; Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112
anti-hero,dionysus	Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112
aristophanes,frogs	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 176
atargatis,gallae	Bremmer (2008), Greek Religion and Culture, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East, 294
atargatis,speed	Bremmer (2008), Greek Religion and Culture, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East, 294
athena	Pucci (2016), Euripides' Revolution Under Cover: An Essay, 169
athens,athenian	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
attis,in rome	Bremmer (2008), Greek Religion and Culture, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East, 294
attis	Bremmer (2008), Greek Religion and Culture, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East, 294
bacchants,bacchae,bacchai	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
bacchants,maenads	Bednarek (2021), The Myth of Lycurgus in Aeschylus, Naevius, and beyond, 124
bacchants	Brule (2003), Women of Ancient Greece, 28
bacchic rites,slaves involved in	Panoussi(2019), Brides, Mourners, Bacchae: Women's Rituals in Roman Literature, 242
bacchus/dionysus	Panoussi(2019), Brides, Mourners, Bacchae: Women's Rituals in Roman Literature, 242
bull	Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112
butes	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
cattle	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
chorus,in drama	Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112
cithaeron	Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112
cult,cultic acts for specific cults, the corresponding god or place	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
dance,dancing,ecstatic,frenzied,maenadic,orgiastic	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
dionysia,great and rural (festivals)	Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112
dionysos,and kybele	Bremmer (2008), Greek Religion and Culture, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East, 294
dionysos,arrival	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
dionysos,awakening	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
dionysos,dionysos as bull	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
dionysos,dionysos as goat	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
dionysos,dionysos bromios	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
dionysos,nurse of	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141, 161
dionysos,punishment	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
dionysos	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141, 161
dionysus	Brule (2003), Women of Ancient Greece, 28
dismemberment	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141, 161
ecstasy ἔκστασις,ecstatic	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
euripides, ion	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 375
euripides,bacchae	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 176, 375
euripides,cyclops	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 375
euripides	Brule (2003), Women of Ancient Greece, 28
funerary dress	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 375
goat,dionysos as	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
goat	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
greek literature and practice,bacchic rites	Panoussi(2019), Brides, Mourners, Bacchae: Women's Rituals in Roman Literature, 242
hellenistic	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
heracles	Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112
hero	Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112
initiate	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
ino	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
iobacchoi	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
ivy	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
kybebe/le,and dionysos	Bremmer (2008), Greek Religion and Culture, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East, 294
kybebe/le	Bremmer (2008), Greek Religion and Culture, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East, 294
lion	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
lycurgus	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
maenad-nymphs	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
maenads,maenadic,maenadism,rites/cults	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
maenads,maenadic,maenadism	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141, 161
maenads	Bremmer (2008), Greek Religion and Culture, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East, 294; Brule (2003), Women of Ancient Greece, 28; Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112
magnesia,magnesian	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
male	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
mater magna	Bremmer (2008), Greek Religion and Culture, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East, 294
melitaia	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
messenger	Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112
miracles	Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112
mystic initiation,transition to joy in	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 375
myth,mythical	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141, 161
naevius	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 375
nymph	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
nysa,nyseion	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
ox-goad βουπλήξ	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
pelinna	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
pentheus,robing of	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 375
pentheus	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141; Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 176
pessinous	Bremmer (2008), Greek Religion and Culture, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East, 294
plato,phaedrus	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 176
pottery	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
procession	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
punishment	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
religion,dionysiac	Brule (2003), Women of Ancient Greece, 28
religion,feminine ritual language	Brule (2003), Women of Ancient Greece, 28
religion,relationships with gods	Brule (2003), Women of Ancient Greece, 28
religion	Brule (2003), Women of Ancient Greece, 28
rite,ritual,maenadic	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
rite,ritual	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
ritual	Brule (2003), Women of Ancient Greece, 28
rome,roman	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 161
semele	Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112
sheep	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
silenos	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 375
slaves	Brule (2003), Women of Ancient Greece, 28
sophocles,antigone	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 176
sparagmos	Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112; Pucci (2016), Euripides' Revolution Under Cover: An Essay, 169
thebes,theban	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141, 161
thebes (boeotia)	Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112
thessaly,thessalian	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
thiasos	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 375
thiasos θίασος	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
thracia,thracian	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
thyrsus	Bremmer (2008), Greek Religion and Culture, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East, 294
thyrsus θύρσος	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
topoi	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 375
tragedy,origins of	Seaford (2018), Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays, 176
versnel,h. s.	Pucci (2016), Euripides' Revolution Under Cover: An Essay, 169
violence/violent	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
woman	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141, 161
women	Lipka (2021), Epiphanies and Dreams in Greek Polytheism: Textual Genres and 'Reality' from Homer to Heliodorus, 112
worship'	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141
zeus	Bernabe et al. (2013), Redefining Dionysos, 141