The chorus of Euripides’ tragedy The Bacchae, written around 405 b.c., evokes the Dionysian mystery rites:
“Blessed is he who, being fortunate and knowing the rites of the gods, keeps his life pure and has his soul initiated into the Bacchic revels, dancing in inspired frenzy over the mountains with holy purifications, and who, revering the mysteries of great mother Kybele, bran dish ing the thyrsos, garlanded with ivy, serves Dionysus.”
Euripides describes the ecstasy that Dionysus unleashes among his retinue:
“Go, Bacchae, go, Bacchae … sing of Dionysus, beneath the heavy beat of drums, celebrating in delight the god of delight with Phrygian shouts and cries, when the sweet-sounding sacred pipe sounds a sacred play ful tune suited to the wanderers, to the mountain, to the mountain!” And the…
