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Euripides’ Bacchæ. Important Names Dionysus (a.k.a. Bacchus, Bromius) Pentheus Agave Teiresias Cadmus Recent commentary by Richard Seaford Older commentary (keyed to the Greek) by E. R. Dodds.
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Important Names Dionysus (a.k.a. Bacchus, Bromius) Pentheus Agave Teiresias Cadmus Recent commentary by Richard Seaford Older commentary (keyed to the Greek) by E. R. Dodds Not part of a trilogy. Produced at the city Dionysia along with Iphigeneia at Aulis and Alcmeon. Date: posthumous, produced soon after 406 B.C. Plot: Pentheus denies Dionysus is a god. D. proves him wrong. Cf. Hypotheses. Bacchæ
Plot Summary • I. Prologue by the god Dionysus (1-63). • A. Identity (1-3) • B. Birth (4-13) • C. Travels (14-19) • D. The situation at Thebes (20-38) • E. The future (39-55) • F. D summons the bacchæ (56-63) • II. Parodos; n.b. the ætiology (64-166)
Plot Summary (cont.) • III. Dialogue between Cadmus, Teiresias, and Pentheus (167-369) • A. Teiresias summons Cadmus from the palace (167-177) • B. Cadmus and Teiresias discuss Dionysus and his cult (178-214) • C. Pentheus enters angry (215-262) • 1. On the bacchæ (215-232) • 2. On the new priest of bacchæ (233-247) • 3. To Cadmus (248-253) • 4. To Teiresias (254-262)
Plot Summary (cont.) • D. Teiresias’ reply (266-328) • 1. On Pentheus (266-271) • 2. On the gift of Dionysus (271-286) • 3. On the birth of Dionysus; μέρος vs. μηρός (287-298) • 4. Other powers (298-309) • 5. Warning to Pentheus (309-328) • E. Cadmus’ reply (329-343) • 1. Go along with it, m’boy (329-337) • 2. Remember Actæon (338-341)
Plot Summary (cont.) • F. Pentheus refuses (343-358) • 1. Orders the seat of the prophet’s activity destroyed (343-351) • 2. Orders the priest arrested for execution, exits (352-358) • G. Teiresias’ final speech; he and Cadmus exit (358-369) • IV. 1st Stasimon (370-432)
Plot Summary (cont.) • V. Pentheus vs. Dionysus I (433-519) • A. Dionysus led in by a servant (433-452) • 1. The arrest (433-444) • 2. The escape of the bacchæ (444-452) • B. Pentheus interrogates Dionysus (452-519) • VI. 2nd Stasimon (520-575) • VII. Epiphany of Dionysus (576-642) • A. Destruction of the Palace (576-603) • B. Dionysus as a mortal again (604-642)
Plot Summary (cont.) • VIII. Pentheus vs. Dionysus II (643-659) • IX. First Messenger Speech: a cowherd (660-786) • A. The revel (660-714) • B. The ambush (714-750) • C. Attack of the women (751-768) • D. Advice for Pentheus (768-786) • X. Pentheus vs. Dionysus III (787-861) • A. Pentheus prepares war (787-810) • B. Pentheus falls under Dionysus’ spell (811-861)
Plot Summary (cont.) • XI. 3rd Stasimon (862-911) • XII. Pentheus and Dionysus (912-976) • XIII. 4th Stasimon (977-1023) • XIV. 2nd Messenger Speech: Pentheus’ servant (1024-1152) • A. Dialogue between messenger and the chorus (1024-1042) • B. The slaying of Pentheus (1043-1152) • XV. 5th Stasimon (1153-1164)
Plot Summary (cont.) • XVI. Exodus (1165-1392) • A. Dialogue between Agave and the chorus (1165-1215) • B. Dialogue between Cadmus and Agave (1216-1300) • C. “Funeral” of Pentheus (1301-1329) • D. Appearance of Dionysus (1330-1368) • E. Departure of Agave (1369-1388) • F. Choral Coda (1389-1394)