# Bacchus — Metamorphoses character guide > Bacchus in Metamorphoses by Ovid. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Trees Bacchus **First appearance:** 0023-birth-of-bacchus ## Snapshot The wine-god whose power transforms pirates into dolphins and drives Theban women to madness, a deity whose gifts blur the line between ecstasy and destruction. ## Who they are Bacchus has conquered Thebes, and his aunt Ino boasts of fostering the god while her sisters suffer madness for denying him. Juno, watching Ino's pride, vows revenge and descends to the underworld to summon the Furies against her. Bacchus himself remains offstage in this passage, but his presence drives the action, a reminder that divine favor can be as dangerous as divine wrath. ## In the story ### [Birth of Bacchus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/birth-of-bacchus) The unborn god rescued from Semele's womb and sewn into Jupiter's thigh; later fostered by Ino and the Niseans. ### [Story of Pentheus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/story-of-pentheus) The young god whose rites Pentheus profanes; he is sought but not found by Pentheus's servants. ### [Mariners Transformed to Dolphins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/mariners-transformed-to-dolphins) The god who reveals his divinity by transforming the mariners into dolphins and sparing Acoetes. ### [Death of Pentheus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/death-of-pentheus) The god whose rites Pentheus profanes, inspiring the frenzy that leads to Pentheus's death. ### [Book IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/book-iv) God whose rites are mocked by Alcithoe and her sisters; they are punished for their impiety. ### [Story of Alcithoe and Her Sisters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/story-of-alcithoe-and-her-sisters) The god whose rites are scorned by Alcithoe and her sisters; described as doubly born, eternally youthful, and victorious over Lycurgus and Pentheus. ### [Alcithoe and Her Sisters Transformed to Bats](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/alcithoe-and-her-sisters-transformed-to-bats) The deity whose power punishes the impious sisters. ### [Transformation of Ino and Melicerta to Sea-Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/transformation-of-ino-and-melicerta-to-sea-gods) Bacchus's power over Thebes is acknowledged; Ino is his nurse and calls upon him as she flees in madness. ### [Story of Perseus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/story-of-perseus) The conquering god who rode through India and was honored in Greece, but was profaned by Acrisius. ### [Song of the Pierides](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/song-of-the-pierides) Transformed into a goat during the giants' war. ### [Book VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/book-vi) The god whose triennial festival provides the cover for Procne to rescue Philomela. ### [Transformation of Arachne Into a Spider](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/transformation-of-arachne-into-a-spider) Depicted in Arachne's tapestry as the clustering grape, melting into Erigone's lap. ### [Book VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/book-vii) Mentioned for disguising a stolen steer as a stag in Ida's grove. ### [Old Aeson Restored to Youth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/old-aeson-restored-to-youth) Observes Medea's feat and subsequently renews his nurse's youth. ### [Death of Pelias](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/death-of-pelias) Mentioned in Medea's flight as having disguised a stolen steer as a stag. ### [Book VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/book-viii) Mentioned in context of divine transformations and stories. ### [The Labyrinth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/the-labyrinth) Discovers and marries the abandoned Ariadne, placing her crown in the heavens. ### [Thracian Women Transformed to Trees](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/thracian-women-transformed-to-trees) Resolves to revenge the murder of Orpheus by transforming the Thracian women into trees. ### [Fable of Midas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/fable-of-midas) God who grants Midas's wish and later provides a remedy for the golden touch. ### [Voyage of Aeneas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/voyage-of-aeneas) Invoked as the author of the gift that transformed Anius' daughters into doves. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/characters/bacchus - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/characters