Maenads, Bassarids, Bacchae, or Bacchantes (take your pick)

In class on Monday we were talking about the women worshipers of Dionysus. And, like everyone else in mythology, they are called by a variety of names. The title of Euripides' play is of course the Bacchae, but sometimes they are known as Bacchantes, Bassarids, or Maenads which literally means "raving ones." A bassaris is a fox skin, which the Roman god Bacchus was wont to wear. Even though he is sexually ambiguous, Dionysus (or Bacchus) drives the ladies crazy. It just can't be helped, kind of like Elvis.

I googled the Maenads, and I found some art of them doing exactly the kinds of things of which Pentheus was afraid. They drink copious amounts of wine and indulge in frenetic dancing and sexual acts. But who can blame them for going wild on their only day off from their daily toils? Personally, I'm ready for a good time at the end of each week. However, I can't say that I usually have to the urge to go to the mountains and tear apart living animals, or humans for that matter. It sounds like things get pretty out of control at celebrations for Dionysus, but that's how he likes them. Apparently, he isn't interested in smart girls, rather the ones who know how to do well what comes naturally.