The Bacchae, pages 155-179 Summary

The setting is the palace at Thebes. The smoking tomb of Dionysus's mother, Semele,is visible. Dionysus enters, disguised as a man. Dionysus has traveled throughout Asia gathering followers and returns to Thebes to punish Semele's sisters, who have been gossiping that Dionysus is not truly the son of Zeus. Dionysus has turned all the women in Thebes mad in revenge for the lies.

Thebes is now ruled by Cadmus' grandson Pentheus, who does not honor Dionysus as a god. Dionysus means to make Thebes worship him. Dionysus leaves and the chorus of Asian Bacchae, followers of Dionysus, enters. They sing of serving their god, Dionysus. They sing about Semele's death and Dionysus's birth. Zeus saved his son, as Semele died in childbirth from lightning, and then Zeus hid Dionysus from Hera. They praise Thebes and Dionysus...