Lenaia

The Lenaia is depicted on numerous vases, which show both typical Maenad scenes and those of aristocrats and wine-mixing rituals.[citation needed] The references we have mention a procession and ἀγών held ‘by torchlight,’ where an Eleusian official, originating in Athens, called upon or invoked Dionysus.[2] The coincidence of invoking Iacchus, seen as Dionysus as a child, by torchlight and commemorating the myth of the god's death and rebirth.[3] Beginning in the second half of the 5th century BC, plays were performed (as they were at the City Dionysia festival later in the year).The audiences for the Lenaia were usually limited to the local population, since travel by sea at that time of year was considered unsafe.[4] Around 442 BC, new comic contests were officially included in the Lenaia, though plays may have been performed there earlier on an informal basis.
Ancient GreekAthenian festivaldramaticcompetitionAthensancient GreeceDionysus LenaiosDelphiMaenadsTitansEleusinian MysteriesArchon basileussacrificeEleusian officialIacchussatyrsTheatre of DionysusCity DionysiaMeticschoregoicomedytragicAristophanesPeloponnesian Warsatyr playsdithyrambsAnthesteriaBacchanaliaDionysiaLenaeus (disambiguation)