Bacchae (The Bacchae by Euripides)

The Bacchae by Euripides is an ancient Greek tragedy about the god Dionysus, who returns to his birthplace Thebes to establish his worship. The city’s ruler, Pentheus, refuses to honor Dionysus, leading to arrogant disrespect and denial of divine power. Dionysus responds by inspiring his female followers, the Bacchae, to engage in wild, frenzied rites. Under this divine influence, Pentheus disguises himself to spy on the ritual but is ultimately torn apart by the Bacchae, including his own mother. The play explores themes of divine retribution, the dangers of hubris, and the tension between order and chaos.