The Bacchae by Euripides Performed at The Greek Theatre in Siracusa

Each year, in May and June, the Greek Theatre in Siracusa comes alive with the performance of Greek tragedies.  The setting is magical as the tragedies start one hour before sunset and the superb choreography of nature adds an essential element to the staging of the play.  Recently, I attended the performance of The Bacchae, by Euripides.

 In this tragedy, there is a mother’s pain for the death of her son. Furthermore, there is a mother realizing she has killed and beheaded not a lion, but her own son.   This is Dionysus’ revenge against his aunt Agaue, who had questioned his divine nature and caused the death of his mother Semele, her own sister.  In this tragedy by Euripides, Dionysus returns to his birthplace, Thebes, to seek revenge.  His cousin Pentheus is the ruler of the city state. Dionysus manages to trick his cousin Pentheus, strip him of his authority, and lead to the events which will cause Pentheus’ death by the hand of his own mother.

The play of lights on the stage created by the sunset, the impact it had on the representation of Mount Cithaerona where the bacchae had retreated, was superb.  Furthermore, the music and the whole ambience made this experience one to be remembered for a long time. 

Pentheus and The Bacchae

Nature’s Lights

A blood covered Agaue enters boasting the head of the Lion 

Agaue realizes it is the head of her own son