CLASSICS 1B03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Pentheus, Maenad, Thyrsus
Document Summary
Chronologically (in myth) before oedipus the king. Sees issues interested with monarchy but a stronger religious element and whether dionysus should be worshipped. Bromids, bakkhos (bacchus), iackhos (iachos), guius (gvius) Hermes saves baby, sewn into zeus" thigh. Cybelle, goddess of fertility (wine, fertility, femininity) Asks zeus to reveal true form which kills semele: learns to dance to music (part of worship, always has long hair and gown. Carry a thyrsus; wear fawnskin; ivy/pine wreath. Dangerous for a male to let go of manliness and worship. Disbelief within the family: aunts and pentheus. Dionysus turns the women into maenads, will force worship. Dionysus in costume (mortal priest of dionysus) Parodos (choral entry song: lydian women, traditional cult hymn. Joyful, with hint of danger: call upon thebans to join them. The wisdom of old age (older generation is doing right) Tireseas" defense (a persons reaction to dionysus depends on morals of. The chorus" joy in dionysus the women.