PENTHEUS

[Greek heroic] The son of Echion and Agave, king of Thebes. He resisted against the introduction of the Dionysic cult, and was torn to pieces by his own mother and other Bacchae in their frenzy, mistaking him for a wild animal. His death is depicted on vases, reliefs, and murals. Pentheus is portrayed as a young man with a cloak, a Boeotian hat, sword, and wearing hunting boots.