Date Posted:15:48:00 02/13/08 Wed Author: Janelle Subject: Re: Losing Distinctions in the Bacchae In reply to:
Betsy Peters
's message, "Losing Distinctions in the Bacchae" on 05:37:23 02/12/08 Tue
I noticed some other transgressed distinctions while rereading the Bacchae that were not brought up in class. First, I think it is very interesting that while describing his followers, from lines 18-20 Dionysus mentions among those areas devoted to him "the whole tract of Asia which lies by the briny sea and its fair-towered cities full of Greeks and barbarians mixed together". We noticed a mixing of genders and species previously, but I think it is very interesting that Dionysus mentions that he is so powerful that his religion brings even Greeks and foreigners (barbarians) together.
Second, it seems to me that Dionysus even transgresses the distinctions between gods. On line 302, Teirisias says that Dionysus "has taken a share in the war-god's sphere". If indeed he interferes in the realm of Ares (I don't know enough about him to say one way or the other), then it could be said that he is blurring the distinctions between gods and their responsibilities.
