Maenads

The term maenad has come to be associated with a wide variety of women, supernatural, mythological, and historical, sacred to Dionysus, maddened by his inspiring power.

In Greek mythology, maenads were the female followers of Dionysus and the most significant members of the Thiasus, the god’s retinue. Their name literally translates as “raving ones”. Maenads were known as Bassarids, Bacchae, or Bacchantes, in Roman mythology after the penchant of the equivalent Roman god, Bacchus, to wear a bassaris or fox skin.

Often the maenads were portrayed as inspired by Dionysus into a state of ecstatic frenzy through a combination of dancing and intoxication.

According to Plutarch’s Life of Alexander, maenads were called Mimallones and Klodones in Macedon, epithets derived from the feminine art of spinning wool. Nevertheless, these warlike parthenoi (“virgins”) from the hills, associated with a Dionysios pseudanor “fake male Dionysus”, routed an invading enemy. In southern Greece they were described as Bacchae, Bassarides, Thyiades, Potniades, and other epithets.

Outfit

Maenads they bore the thyrsos, a staff that is crowned with ivy, and wore the skin of a panther, a beast loved by Dionysus 2 for being among the most excitable of animals. The maenads also put a snake over their locks, for Zeus crowned his son with snakes when he let him come out of his thigh.

Soldiers of Dionysus

Since Dionysus discovered the precious nectar of the vine, he was resisted by several who opposed the introduction of his rites. The Mmaenads then, acting like soldiers, favored the god and his rites, and fought against his impious enemies, such as Pentheus 1 and Lycurgus 1; but also Orpheus was killed by them for disputed reasons.

Their inspiration

The maenads have been reported to be able to perform miracles, for it has been said that where one of them stroke the ground with her thyrsos, there came forth a stream of wine, and when they scratched the earth with their fingers they obtained streams of milk. And it has also been told that from the thyrsos dripped honey. The maenads could do such things, they say, because they were possessed and not in their senses. Their playing and dancing, it is said, should not be quelled, for the MUSES love the flute, and they would be angered by those attempting to pacify and put down these god-inspired women.

Sources:

Wikipedia

Maicar