Steinhauer, Julietta; (2020) Dionysian associations and the Bacchanalian affair. In: Mac Góráin, Fiachra, (ed.) Dionysus and Rome: Religion and Literature. (pp. 133-156). De Gruyter: Berlin, Germany.

Preview

Text Steinhauer_10.1515_9783110672237-005.pdf Download (265kB) | Preview

Abstract

This chapter explores the social dynamics of Bacchic worship in mid-Republican Rome and the extent to which Livy’s narrative of the events, when compared to the senatus consultum de bacchanalibus, enables us to reconstruct a coherent picture of Bacchic worship in this period. The article argues two main points. (a) Bacchic worship as targeted in the senatus consultum was wide rang-ing and diverse, as reflected by the decree. A brief sketch of the classical evidence for Bacchic worship from Italy confirms the multifaceted forms of worship that we should anticipate for mid-Republican groups, rather than apply retrospective considerations of highly structured associations as suggested for Imperial colle-gia, based to a certain degree on legal sources. (b) When comparing the evidence supplied by Livy in book 39 to the regulations enacted by the senate in 186 BCE, important discrepancies can be observed with regard to the gender constellations of the worshipping groups: while Livy identifies female worshippers and a priest-ess (who allowed for male participation in the cult) as main culprits for the de-bauchery, the senatus consultum is formulated in favour of female participants and priestesses as well as mixed-gender groups. This discrepancy can perhaps be explained by Livy’s own moralising agenda and Augustan ideas of gender-spe-cific behaviour. It should not be seen, however, as an actual reflection of the so-cial dynamics of Bacchic groups in mid-Republican Rome.

Download activity - last month

Export as JSONXMLCSV

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as XMLJSONCSV

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as XMLJSONCSV

Archive Staff Only

View Item