Parodos Summary

The Parodos is a hymn of praise to Dionysus by his cult followers. The cult has followed him from Persia, not realizing that he is actually the god they worship. In song, they again tell the story of his birth. They describe the joy of worship with abandon, even to the point of dressing in animal skins and eating raw meat. Wildness and holiness are synonymous in the worship of Dionysus, although this combination is frightening and revolting to outsiders like Pentheus.

Parodos Analysis

For his Chorus and for Dionysus, worship is more important than reason. This song praises unrestrained worship instead of reason. In fact, it suggests that worship is the only reasonable response to the gods.