Observations placeholder
Euripides - The Bacchae
Identifier
013506
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
The Bacchae – Euripides V [translated by William Arrowsmith]
PENTHEUS
Who is this god whose worship
you have imported into Hellas?
DIONYSOS
Dionysos, the son of Zeus.
He initiated me.
PENTHEUS
You have some local Zeus
who spawns new gods?
DIONYSOS
He is the same as yours-
the Zeus who married Semele.
PENTHEUS
How did you see him?
ln a dream or face to face?
DIONYSOS
Face to face.
He gave me his rites.
PENTHEUS
What form do they take,
these mysteries of yours?
DIONYSOS
It is forbidden
to tell the uninitiate.
PENTHEUS
Tell me the benefits
that those who know your mysteries enjoy.
DIONYSOS
I am forbidden to say. But they are worth knowing.
PENTHEUS
Your answers are designed to make me curious.
DIONYSOS
No:
our mysteries abhor an unbelieving man.
PENTHEUS
Do you hold your rites
during the day or night?
DIONYSOS
Mostly by night.
The darkness is well suited to devotion.
PENTHEUS
Better suited to lechery and seducing women.
DIONYSOS
You can find debauchery by daylight too.
PENTHEUS
You shall regret these clever answers.
DIONYSOS
And you,
your stupid blasphemies.