The Bacchae Chapter Summary & Analysis - Prologue Summary

Prologue Summary

Dionysus, son of the god, Zeus, and the mortal, Semele, is at the palace of Pentheus, King of Thebes. Dionysus addresses the audience to announce himself and his reason for coming. He has taken the form of a human leader of the Dionysian cult, so that he may punish those of Thebes who do not worship him as a god. He also intends by this to vindicate his mother, Semele.

When Zeus had his affair with Semele, Hera found out and caused Semele to question whether the one she loved was really Zeus. Semele secured a promise from Zeus to grant her any wish, and her wish was that he reveal himself as a god. The lightening flash from his god-self destroyed Semele. Zeus took Dionysus from her womb and sewed the unborn Dionysus into his own thigh until the baby was full term. To this day, smoke still rises...
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