#the bacchae

• The Bacchae — The plural form of the noun bacantă; a group of ecstatic women in ancient mythology who formed the retinue of worshippers of Bacchus, famous for their states of collective trance. In the history of world theater, the term directly refers to Euripides' famous tragedy, 'The Bacchae', a dramatic masterpiece exploring the profound conflict between the rational order of the state and the primordial, unbridled forces of human nature.
• Bacchantes — The international spelling, of French and English origin, for the noun 'bacante'; the ecstatic women who accompanied Bacchus in his mythological travels and took part in his secret rituals. In modern texts of literary criticism, theater history, and philosophical essays, the term is used to symbolically designate primordial feminine forces, unbridled passionate behavior, or feminine characters in classical ancient tragedies.