AGAVE (mortal woman of Cadmus)
Figure of myth · daughter of Cadmus in Greek mythology
- Parents
- Cadmus, Harmonia
- Siblings
- Semele, Ino, Autonoë, Polydorus
- Consorts
- Echion, Lycotherses
- Children
- Pentheus, Epirus
- Symbols and gear
- son
- Haunts and cult places
- Kithairon
- In the sources
- 26 ancient passages
She was the sister of Ino, Semele, Autonoe, and Polydorus, sharing their lineage, while her sisters were also known to be in misfortune.1,2,3,4 Cadmus gave her in marriage to Echion, a sown man, and she bore him a son named Pentheus.5,6,7,8 Though she referred to herself as blessed during the revels, she was described as mad.9,10
She ran swiftly through valleys and cliffs, inspired by the god, and attempted to hurl boulders at Pentheus, who planned to hunt her down from the mountains.11,12 Driven mad by Dionysus, Agave lost her rational thought and began the slaughter of her son while acting as a priestess.13,14,3
On Mount Kithairon, Agave tore her son limb from limb with her own hands, mistakenly believing he was a wild beast.7,15,14,9,13 She tore off his right hand while he prayed, and with the aid of the god's power, she tore out his shoulder.16,13 Agave seized the severed head of her son with her blood-stained fingers, carrying it on a thyrsos through the mountain.16,13,6,14 She claimed the victory was the work of her companions and that she had caught a young wild lion cub without snares.16,10,15
Agave arrived in the city with Bacchic foot, intending to hang the lion's head on her father's house and invite Thebes to a banquet.15,6 When she embraced her father, Cadmus, her actions resulted in the destruction of the family's house.17,14 Agave howled and shook her hair in the air upon seeing her son's maimed body, having failed to recognize him despite his attempts to identify himself.16,13 She blamed Dionysus for bringing misery to her household, treating him with disrespect for the ruin he had caused.4,14
A miserable exile was decreed for Agave and her husband, sending her to the land of Aristaeus.17,4 She asked where she could turn, banished from her fatherland and deprived of her father's presence.17 Agave wished to avoid places with memorials dedicated to the thyrsos and to never see the mountain Kithairon again.4 Her actions resulted in the destruction of her family's house, leaving her a figure of impious crime and eternal regret.14,9,18
The codex facts behind this entry
Agave is the daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia. Euripides, Bacchae 1200-1243 +2 Agave is identified as the mother of Pentheus. Euripides, Bacchae 677-727 +1 She is described as a raging Maenad who committed this specific crime. Seneca, Phoenissae act 3 ¶1
Appearance
Agave is described as having apple cheeks. Theocritus, Idyl 26 ¶1
In the myths
Agave tore her son Pentheus limb from limb with her own hands while in a state of madness, mistakenly believing he was a wild beast. Apollodorus 3.5.2 +4 Agave was driven mad by Dionysus, causing her to lose her rational thought. Euripides, Bacchae 1114-1152 +1 Agave participated in the dismemberment of Pentheus on Mount Kithairon. Euripides, Bacchae 1280-1329 +1 Agave participated in revelries while calling on Iacchus. Euripides, Bacchae 677-727 She left her sisters behind to dance while she carried the head. Euripides, Bacchae 1114-1152 Agave is sent to the land of Aristaeus by her father. Euripides, Bacchae 1368ff Agave wishes to avoid places with memorials dedicated to the thyrsos. Euripides, Bacchae 1368ff The Bacchae, including Agave, fell upon Hysiae and Erythrae, turning everything upside down. Euripides, Bacchae 728-774 Agave claims she caught a young wild lion cub without using snares and was the first to strike and kill it. Euripides, Bacchae 1168-1183 Agave wishes to avoid seeing the mountain Kithairon. Euripides, Bacchae 1368ff
Fate
Agave is in the process of regaining her sober mind and forgetting her previous actions. Euripides, Bacchae 1244-1279
