Summary

In Chapter 30, Ariadne began doubting Dionysus. Both Phaedra’s words and “the bloodied stream, the weeping maenads,” convinced her Dionysus was untrustworthy (247). One night she snuck “ through the trees,” wanting to know more about his rituals (248). When she came to the site of his altar, she watched as he slayed and resurrected a lamb.

In Chapter 31, Ariadne lay awake thinking about what she had seen, and about the past. The next day, she spoke to a maenad named Euphrosyne. Euphronsyne explained that she had come to Naxos after her husband had had her newborn killed. She had hoped that following Dionysus might bring her child back. Hearing her story changed Ariadne’s outlook. She decided to “go to Athens” to see Phaedra (255).

In Chapter 32, Dionysus did not understand why Ariadne wanted “to chase after” Phaedra (256). He insisted that she could not “dissuade...