The Bacchae

*The Bacchae* is an ancient Greek tragedy by Euripides that explores the consequences of denying the power of Dionysus, the god of wine and ecstasy. It follows King Pentheus, who forbids the worship of Dionysus, leading to chaos as the god’s followers—the Bacchae—embark on wild, frenzied celebrations. These rituals ultimately unleash destruction, and Pentheus’s refusal to respect the divine results in his tragic downfall. The play examines themes of divine justice, the limits of human authority, and the intoxicating, sometimes destructive nature of ecstasy and belief.