2.22 3.729–33

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non citius frondes autumni frigore tactas
iamque male haerentes alta rapit arbore ventus, 730
quam sunt membra viri manibus direpta nefandis.
talibus exemplis monitae nova sacra frequentant
turaque dant sanctasque colunt Ismenides aras.

Study Questions

Parse citius (729).
What are the subject and the verb of the sentence starting with non citius... (729–30)?
What kind of ablative is alta … arbore (730)?
What kind of ablative is manibus … nefandis (731)?
What is the subject of the sentence starting with talibus exemplis... (732–33)?

Stylistic Appreciation

Assess the explanatory value and the appropriateness of the simile Ovid uses to illustrate Pentheus’ dismemberment.

Discussion Points

Why does Ovid turn the doom of Pentheus into an exemplum that stimulates religious worship — despite the fact that he stated earlier that the Theban king was the only one in Thebes who refused to honour Bacchus with cultic veneration? (Note that Ovid specifies the Theban women as the ones taught Bacchus’ lesson.) What do you make of a religion/ divinity who practises this sort of didacticism? Are there hints in the text that Ovid disapproves of Pentheus’ punishment?

autumnus, -i, m.	autumn
frigor, -oris, m.	cold
tango, -ere, tetigi, tactum	to touch, take hold of
diripio, -ere, -pui, direptum	to tear asunder/ in pieces, lay waste
moneo, -ere, -ui, monitum	to remind; to admonish, advice, warn; to instruct, teach
tus, turis, n.	incense, frankincense
Ismenis, -idis, f.	a Theban woman [from Ismenus, a river of Boeotia near Thebes]