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Pentheus

Pentheus to pieces by Ino and Agave , cover Lkana, v. 450 - 425 BC. BC , Muse du Louvre

Central scene of the "mosaic of Pentheus, Roman artwork, Nmes

In Greek mythology , Pentheus (in ancient Greek / of / "pain, grief"), son of chion (one of the Spartans ) and Agave (daughter of Cadmus ) is king of Thebes.

Successor to the throne of Cadmus of Thebes, he opposed the introduction of the Dionysian cult in his kingdom. While it is hidden in a tree in Mount Cithaeron to spy bacchanal , he is discovered and torn to pieces by maenads , leading notably its own mother and two aunts, Ino and Autonoe. This is the subject of the tragedy of Euripides , The Bacchae.

According to Pausanias , the Corinthians guided by the oracle of Delphi worship graven images in the wood of the tree which hid Pentheus.

According scholium the Phoenician of Euripides , Pentheus had a son named Oclasos. This son is the father of Menoeceus , himself the father of Creon and Jocasta (which would bring the royal family of Thebes).