Special Sub-Topic: The Bacchae Click Here To Play: The Bacchae

Who is the first character to enter and speak lines?

The god Dionysus. In fact, the first thing he says is "I am Dionysus", and then he goes on to explain why he's annoyed at his mortal relatives.

Who are the Bacchae, anyway?

Asian women who follow the god Dionysus. Not to be confused with the maenads, whom Dionysus/Bacchus has driven mad.

It's appropriate that Dionysus is a central character in a play, because he's actually the god of theatre

t. The Athenian play festival was dedicated to Dionysus.

The mother of Dionysus was killed because of the wrath of Hera, since she had cheated with Hera's husband Zeus. The actual cause of death was...?

Lightning. Semele was struck by lightning just as Dionysus was born.

The Bacchae concerns a fight between a mortal king, Pentheus, and a god, Dionysus. How are they related?

They're cousins. Their mothers were sisters.

The followers of Dionysus carry thyrsoi (singular: thyrsos). What's that, exactly?

An ivy-covered staff. These are often depicted in vase paintings as tipped with a pine cone. They could be used as walking sticks, weapons and even magic wands.

Which one of the following acts did the maenads not engage in?

Turning stones into bread. They did, however, cause milk and wine to flow from the ground, and honey from their thyrsoi.

Which of the following was not a daughter of Cadmus?

Polydorus. Polydorus was a son of Cadmus.

Besides Dionysus and Pentheus, which grandson of Cadmus is mentioned in the play?

Actaeon. Actaeon was Autonoe's son. He was unlucky enough to annoy Artemis, and she caused his own hounds to tear him to pieces.

What fate befalls Cadmus after his daughter Agave murders her own son?

He and his wife are doomed to turn into serpents. Dionysus dooms Cadmus and Harmonia to be transformed into dragonlike beasts and banished to travel distant lands in a donkey cart instead of a chariot. However, he assures them that everything will work out in the end.