1. Euripides’ Bacchæ

2. Bacchæ Important Names Recent commentary by Richard Seaford
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.

3. 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)

4. Plot Summary (cont.)
III. Dialogue between Cadmus, Teiresias, and Pentheus ( )
A. Teiresias summons Cadmus from the palace ( )
B. Cadmus and Teiresias discuss Dionysus and his cult ( )
C. Pentheus enters angry ( )
1. On the bacchæ ( )
2. On the new priest of bacchæ ( )
3. To Cadmus ( )
4. To Teiresias ( )

5. Plot Summary (cont.) D. Teiresias’ reply (266-328)
1. On Pentheus ( )
2. On the gift of Dionysus ( )
3. On the birth of Dionysus; μέρος vs. μηρός ( )
4. Other powers ( )
5. Warning to Pentheus ( )
E. Cadmus’ reply ( )
1. Go along with it, m’boy ( )
2. Remember Actæon ( )

6. Plot Summary (cont.) IV. 1st Stasimon (370-432)
F. Pentheus refuses ( )
1. Orders the seat of the prophet’s activity destroyed ( )
2. Orders the priest arrested for execution, exits ( )
G. Teiresias’ final speech; he and Cadmus exit ( )
IV. 1st Stasimon ( )

7. Plot Summary (cont.) V. Pentheus vs. Dionysus I (433-519)
A. Dionysus led in by a servant ( )
1. The arrest ( )
2. The escape of the bacchæ ( )
B. Pentheus interrogates Dionysus ( )
VI. 2nd Stasimon ( )
VII. Epiphany of Dionysus ( )
A. Destruction of the Palace ( )
B. Dionysus as a mortal again ( )

8. Plot Summary (cont.) VIII. Pentheus vs. Dionysus II (643-659)
IX. First Messenger Speech: a cowherd ( )
A. The revel ( )
B. The ambush ( )
C. Attack of the women ( )
D. Advice for Pentheus ( )
X. Pentheus vs. Dionysus III ( )
A. Pentheus prepares war ( )
B. Pentheus falls under Dionysus’ spell ( )

9. Plot Summary (cont.) XI. 3rd Stasimon (862-911)
XII. Pentheus and Dionysus ( )
XIII. 4th Stasimon ( )
XIV. 2nd Messenger Speech: Pentheus’ servant ( )
A. Dialogue between messenger and the chorus ( )
B. The slaying of Pentheus ( )
XV. 5th Stasimon ( )

10. Plot Summary (cont.) XVI. Exodus (1165-1392)
A. Dialogue between Agave and the chorus ( )
B. Dialogue between Cadmus and Agave ( )
C. “Funeral” of Pentheus ( )
D. Appearance of Dionysus ( )
E. Departure of Agave ( )
F. Choral Coda ( )