Definitions for Maenad
ˈmi nædmae·nad

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. maenadnoun

   an unnaturally frenzied or distraught woman

2. maenadnoun

   (Greek mythology) a woman participant in the orgiastic rites of Dionysus

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. maenadnoun

   A female follower of Dionysus, associated with intense reveling.

2. maenadnoun

   An excessively wild or emotional woman.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Maenad

   In Greek mythology, maenads (; Ancient Greek: μαινάδες [maiˈnades]) 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. During these rites, the maenads would dress in fawn skins and carry a thyrsus, a long stick wrapped in ivy or vine leaves and tipped with a pine cone. They would weave ivy-wreaths around their heads or wear a bull helmet in honor of their god, and often handle or wear snakes.These women were mythologized as the "mad women" who were nurses of Dionysus in Nysa. Lycurgus "chased the Nurses of the frenzied Dionysus through the holy hills of Nysa, and the sacred implements dropped to the ground from the hands of one and all, as the murderous Lycurgus struck them down with his ox-goad". They went into the mountains at night and practised strange rites.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.The term maenad has come to be associated with a wide variety of women, supernatural, mythological, and historical, associated with the god Dionysus and his worship. In Euripides' play The Bacchae, maenads of Thebes murder King Pentheus after he bans the worship of Dionysus. Dionysus, Pentheus' cousin, himself lures Pentheus to the woods, where the maenads tear him apart. His corpse is mutilated by his own mother, Agave, who tears off his head, believing it to be that of a lion. A group of maenads also kill Orpheus, when he refuses to entertain them while mourning his dead wife.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. maenad

   A maenad is a female follower of Dionysus, the ancient Greek god of wine, in Greek mythology. They are often depicted in literature and art as being in a state of ecstatic frenzy, inspired by the god, and participating in various rites including dancing, singing, and hunting. The term 'maenad' is derived from the Greek words 'mênos' meaning "spirit" and 'adô' meaning "I revel".

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Maenadnoun

   a Bacchante; a priestess or votary of Bacchus

2. Maenadnoun

   a frantic or frenzied woman

3. Etymology: [L. Maenas, -adis, Gr. , , fr. to rave.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Maenad

   In Greek mythology, maenads were the female followers of Dionysus, the most significant members of the Thiasus, the god's retinue. Their name literally translates as "raving ones". Often the maenads were portrayed as inspired by Dionysus into a state of ecstatic frenzy, through a combination of dancing and drunken intoxication. In this state, they would lose all self-control, begin shouting excitedly, engage in uncontrolled sexual behavior, and ritualistically hunt down and tear to pieces animals—and, at least in myth, sometimes men and children—devouring the raw flesh. During these rites, the maenads would dress in fawn skins and carry a thyrsus, a long stick wrapped in ivy or vine leaves and tipped by a cluster of leaves; they would weave ivy-wreaths around their heads or wear a bull helmet in honor of their god, and often handle or wear snakes. German philologist Walter Friedrich Otto writes that The maddened Hellenic women of real life were mythologized as the mad women who were nurses of Dionysus in Nysa: Lycurgus "chased the Nurses of the frenzied Dionysus through the holy hills of Nysa, and the sacred implements dropped to the ground from the hands of one and all, as the murderous Lycurgus struck them down with his ox-goad." They went into the mountains at night and practised strange rites.

Matched Categories

1. • Greek Mythology
   • Woman

Anagrams for Maenad »

1. anadem

How to pronounce Maenad?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Maenad in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Maenad in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Maenad in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Maenad
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Maenad
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maenad
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Maenad
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=Maenad