The Bacchae
Ancient Philosophy
Parts
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Prologue
Parodos
First Episode
First Choral Ode
Second Episode
Second Choral Ode
Third Episode
Third Choral Ode
Fourth Episode
Fourth Choral Ode
Fifth Episode
Fifth Choral Ode
Exodos
Prologue
• Bacchus addresses the audience to
announce himself and his reason for
coming.
Parados
• The Parodos is a hymn of praise to
Bacchus by his cult followers.
First Episode
• Tiresius and Cadmus
First Choral Ode
• The Chorus sings a hymn denouncing
Pentheus as a blasphemer and extolling
the virtues of simple living.
• Bacchus is praised as the god that brings
wine and plenty that "cures [the] grief" of
both the rich and the poor.
Second Episode
• A soldier brings Bacchus to the palace
• Bacchus and Pentheus
– Political power
– Religious power
• miracles
Second Choral Ode
• The Chorus sings another hymn to
denounce Pentheus and pray for the
release of their cult leader.
Third Episode
• there is an earthquake, and Bacchus is set
free from the palace prison.
• A messenger arrives with news about the
bacchants, the women outside the city.
• This messenger reports that they are not
living lasciviously, like Pentheus said they
were.
Third Choral Ode
• The Chorus looks forward to Bacchus’
revenge.
• The Chorus sings that although divine
power is slow, it will certainly punish the
arrogant.
• Again, the Chorus extols the virtues of the
simple man who lives within the traditions
of his people.
Fourth Episode
• Pentheus comes out of the palace dressed
as a bacchant and playing the part.
• Now he is eager to spy on the women and
hopes to catch them at lovemaking.
• Bacchus mocks him by humoring him, and
promises that Pentheus will return in the
arms of his mother.
• Pentheus replies, "I take what I deserve."
Fourth Choral Ode
• The Chorus sings to inspire the mad
bacchants' rage against Pentheus.
• The Chorus refers to him as the offspring
of animals and they call for justice to
avenge the gods.
Fifth Episode
• The second messenger to appear in this play
comes to report the violent death of Pentheus.
• When he could not see the women well,
Pentheus complained, and so Bacchus bent
down the top of a tree and placed him there.
• Once Pentheus was high up in the tree the
messenger says Bacchus called and ordered
the women to take their vengeance
Fifth Choral Ode
• The Chorus sings in celebration of
Bacchus' revenge and mocks Agave when
she returns carrying Pentheus' head,
unaware that she has murdered her own
son.
Exodos
• When Agave triumphantly returns to the city,
even the Chorus expresses pity for her.
• Cadmus comes out to see what has happened,
and then he talks Agave back to her senses,
helping her face what she has done.
• Cadmus explains that Bacchus has punished
them all, because they did not recognize him as
a god.