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"Dionysus holds this office, to join in
dances, to laugh with the flute, and to bring an
end to cares, whenever the delight of the grape
comes at the feasts of the gods, and in ivy-bearing
banquets the goblet sheds sleep over men."
[Euripides,
Bacchanals
380]
"The god, the son of
Zeus, delights in banquets, and loves
Peace, giver of riches, goddess who nourishes
youths. To the blessed and to the less fortunate,
he gives an equal pleasure from
wine that banishes grief."
[Euripides,
Bacchanals
420]
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The MAENADS or Bacchants are women sacred to
Dionysus 2 and
maddened by his inspiring power.
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Outfit
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The MAENADS are followers of the god of the
vine. They bore the thyrsos, which is a staff that
is crowned with ivy, and wore the skin of a
panther, a beast loved by
Dionysus 2 for being
among the most excitable of animals. The MAENADS
also put a snake over their locks, for
Zeus crowned his son with
snakes when he let him come out of his thigh.
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Soldiers of Dionysus
2
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Since Dionysus 2
discovered the precious nectar of the vine, he was
resisted by several who opposed the introduction of
his rites, and the MAENADS, acting like soldiers,
favoured the god and his rites, and fought against
his impious enemies, such as
Pentheus 1 and
Lycurgus 1; but also
Orpheus was killed by
them for disputed reasons.
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Orpheus and his wife.
He was killed by the MAENADS
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Their inspiration
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The MAENADS have been reported to be able to
perform miracles, for it has been said that where
one of them stroke the ground with her thyrsos,
there came forth a stream of
wine, and when they
scratched the earth with their fingers they
obtained streams of milk. And it has also been told
that from the thyrsos dripped honey. The MAENADS
could do these things, they say, because they were
possessed and not in their senses. Their playing
and dancing, it is said, should not be quelled, for
the MUSES love the flute,
and they would be angered by those attempting to
pacify and put down these god-inspired women.
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Their fury
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But they were also known for being most cruel
against the enemies of the god they worshipped. For
being possessed by the unusual strength that came
from bacchic frenzy, they could tear apart whoever
came in their way, as it happened to King
Pentheus 1 of
Thebes, who was torn limb
by limb by them. And they could rout armies, for
they could not be wounded when touched by enemy
weapons, but they inflicted casualties on their
opponents by hurling the thyrsoi at them. It is
also said that they could carry heavy objects on
their shoulders without holding them with bounds,
and that they carried fire on their locks without
being burned. So, possessing such amazing
qualities, they could fall upon towns, turning
everything upside down, for no one could resist
them. And yet it is told that the MAENADS were
imprisoned by King Lycurgus 1 (known for being fond
of cutting people to pieces, and for decorating his
gates with their extremities), the first to oppose
Dionysus 2, some say
in Thrace.
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Young god
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Dionysus 2
travelled through Lydia and
Phrygia in Asia Minor,
and he also came to India. Assisted by the MAENADS
and the SATYRS, he set to
dance all those nations, establishing his
mysteries, so that all would acknowledge him as a
deity. This was not easy because this god was a
late comer, being as he was the grandson of
Cadmus, the founder of
Thebes, and also because
mortals are the easy prey of fear. But the MAENADS,
with their many wonders, proved that they were
possessed and inspired by a god. And those who were
unwilling to accept
Dionysus 2, the
general of the MAENADS, were ruined, so that they
would understand what it meant no to be initiated
in the Bacchic rites.
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Many from abroad
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Since Dionysus 2
had conquered the East before he came to Hellas,
many who formed his sacred band were recruited
among those whom they called barbarians, who came
with the Phrygian drums that had been invented by
Dionysus 2 himself and
by Rhea 1, the mother of
the gods. The MAENADS celebrated this god of
delight with hymns, and knowing his rites and
having their souls initiated in the Bacchic revels,
kept their lives pure, danced in inspired frenzy,
and performed holy purifications, accompanying
themselves with the heavy beat of drums.
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Alcimacheia.
A Maenad from Lemnos
who followed Dionysus
2 in his Indian campaign. She was daughter of
Harpalion 2, a man from
Lemnos famous for his
wines, and was killed during the Indian war by
Morrheus 1, an Indian general son of Didnasos.
Nonn.27.330, 30.192-194
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Bromie.
One of the MAENADS who tried to kill Lycurgus 1.
Nonn.21.88.
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Calybe 3.
Another follower of
Dionysus 2 in the
Indian War.
Nonn.29.270.
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Chalcomede.
When Chalcomede followed
Dionysus 2 in his
Indian campaign, the Indian general Morrheus 1, hit
by one of Eros' arrows,
fell in love with her, and when he was about to
seize her a serpent darted out of her bosom to
protect her.
Nonn.33.17, 33.190ff., 35.204ff.
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Charopeia 1.
Leader of the Bacchic dance. She followed
Dionysus 2 in his
Indian campaign.
Nonn.36.256.
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Chorea.
Chorea is said to have followed
Dionysus 2 in his
expedition against Argos.
Perseus 1 is said to
have put all the women to the sword, including
Chorea, but since she had a higher rank she was not
buried in a common grave, but had a tomb apart,
which some consider a great honor, although nothing
tangible or of any benefit for the dead man or
woman appears to come from it. And the memory is
kept of many who do not have a tomb.
Pau.2.20.4.
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Cisseis.
One of the MAENADS who tried to kill Lycurgus 1.
Nonn.21.89.
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Clite 3.
Same as above.
Nonn.21.77.
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Codone 1.
A follower of Dionysus
2 in the Indian war. She was killed by Morrheus
1.
Nonn.30.213.
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Coronis 3
A Thessalian who was raped by Butes 6, a
Thracian. Butes 6 had plotted against his brother,
Lycurgus 8, and had to go in exile. Having
travelled through the Cyclades, he and his
companions came to Thessaly. There they met the
MAENADS who fled in fright as the men rushed upon
them. However Butes 6 seized Coronis 3 and raped
her, and she, angry at the seizure and the
treatement she received, called upon
Dionysus 2, who,
hearing her prayer, drove him mad. Butes 6 then
threw himself into a well and died.
Dio.4.70.3, 5.50.2, 5.50.5.
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Eriphe.
One of the MAENADS who tried to kill Lycurgus 1.
Nonn.21.81.
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Eurypyle 2.
A follower of Dionysus
2 in the Indian war. She was killed by Morrheus
1.
Nonn.30.222.
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Gigarto.
One of the MAENADS who tried to kill Lycurgus 1.
She was killed by Morrheus 1.
Nonn.21.77, 30.223, 33.15.
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Gorge 3.
One of the followers of
Dionysus 2 in the
Indian War.
Nonn.29.266.
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Melictaina.
Same as above.
Nonn.30.225.
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Myrto.
One of the followers of
Dionysus 2 in the
Indian War.
Nonn.29.270.
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Nyse.
Same as above.
Nonn.29.272.
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Oenone 2.
One of the followers of
Dionysus 2 in the
Indian War.
Nonn.29.253.
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Phasyleia.
A maid in the train of Methe 2. Leader of the
Bacchanal dance. After Methe 2 the surfeit of
wine (drunkenness) was
called. Methe 2 was married to King Staphylus 2 of
Assyria, who entertained
Dionysus 2 in his
palace; after him the carryberry bunch of grapes
was called.
Nonn.20.125, 21.84.
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Phlio.
One of the MAENADS who tried to kill Lycurgus 1.
Nonn.21.80.
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Polyxo 2.
One of the MAENADS who tried to kill Lycurgus 1.
See also HYADES 1, and
NYMPHS DODONIDES at
NYMPHS.
Hyg.Ast.2.21; Hyg.Fab.182, 192 Nonn.21.69.
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Soe.
One of the MAENADS who joined
Dionysus 2 in his
Indian campaign. She was killed by the Indian
general Morrheus 1.
Nonn.30.222.
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Staphyle.
One of the followers of
Dionysus 2 in the
Indian War. Killed by Morrheus 1.
Nonn.29.257, 30.223.
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Sterope 7.
Same as above.
Nonn.29.237.
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Terpsichore 2.
A dancing MAENAD who followed
Dionysus 2 in the
Indian War and drove away the Indian army with her
dance.
Nonn.29.237.
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Theope.
One of the MAENADS who tried to kill Lycurgus 1.
Nonn.21.86.
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