Fear itself: Greek maenadism and the controversy of 186 B.C.E.
by Washburn, Michael David, M.A., SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY, 2010, 102 pages; 1496272

Abstract:

In the year 186 B.C.E. the Roman Senate persecuted the cult of Dionysos resulting in the deaths of thousands of citizens and allies. The Senate's decree went on to place extremely strict restrictions on any future cult activity in Italy. This paper examines why the Senate resorted to such drastic measures and suggests that gender was the issue at the heart of the controversy as opposed to politics, misguided senatorial power or the fear of foreigners tampering with internal Roman affairs. In tracing the Greek origins of the cult's female worshippers, the maenads, in both myth and history, to the feared bacchants of Livy's Book 39.8-19, this paper argues that gender played a more central role to the controversy than previously thought.

 
AdviserByron Nakamura
SchoolSOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
SourceMAI/ 49-06, p. , Aug 2011
Source TypeThesis
SubjectsReligious history; Ancient history; Gender studies
Publication Number1496272
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