Bacchanals

Dive into the world of Euripides Bacchae, a gripping exploration of myth and madness. Set against the backdrop of Thebes, the story unfolds with King Pentheus and his mother Agave facing the wrath of Dionysus, the god who seeks to prove his divine lineage and bring the wild rites of his worship to the city. This enthralling tale culminates in a shocking climax where Pentheus is brutally torn apart by the women of Thebes, with Agave tragically presenting his severed head to her father, Cadmus. Unlike many Greek tragedies, Bacchae features a dynamic chorus that plays a vital role in the narrative, and Dionysus himself takes center stage as the driving force of the drama. Presented in a dramatic poem format by Henry Hart Milman, a former Professor of Poetry at Oxford, this translation brings a fresh perspective to a timeless classic. (Summary by Alan Mapstone)