Maenad

A Maenad (Ancient Greek: μαινάς, mainás, plural: μαινάδες, mainádes) was a female follower of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, fertility, theatre, religious ecstasy, and ritual madness. The name literally translates to "raving woman" or "mad woman."

Maenads were often depicted as being in a state of ecstatic frenzy through a combination of dancing, intoxication, and revelry. This frenzied state was believed to allow them to commune directly with Dionysus and experience divine possession.

Their rituals, known as orgia or bacchanalia, often took place in the wilderness, particularly in mountains and forests. During these rituals, Maenads were said to tear apart animals (omophagy) and consume their raw flesh as a symbolic act of communion with Dionysus. They carried thyrsi, staffs entwined with ivy and topped with a pinecone, which they used as weapons and ritual objects.

Maenads are a significant motif in Greek art and literature, particularly in tragedies such as Euripides' The Bacchae. They represent both the power and the danger of Dionysian ecstasy, highlighting the potential for both spiritual enlightenment and destructive madness. The myths surrounding Maenads often explore themes of social disruption, the suppression of instinctual drives, and the consequences of resisting the power of the gods. Their attire typically included fawnskins (nebrides) and ivy wreaths.