Editing Zagreus (section)

== Underworld ==
The early mentions of Zagreus, which occur only in fragments from lost works, connect Zagreus with the [[Greek underworld]].<ref>Gantz, pp. 118&ndash;119.</ref> The earliest is in a single quoted line from the (6th century BC?)<ref>West 2003, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/greek_epic_fragments_theban_cycle_oedipodea/2003/pb_LCL497.11.xml p. 11].</ref> epic ''[[Alcmeonis]]'':

{{blockquote|Mistress Earth [Gaia], and Zagreus highest of all the gods.<ref>''[[Alcmeonis]]'' [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/greek_epic_fragments_theban_cycle_alcmeonis/2003/pb_LCL497.61.xml fr. 3 West] [= ''Etymologicum Gudianum'' s.v. Ζαγρεύς].</ref>}}

Perhaps here meaning the highest god of the underworld.<ref>According to West 2003, [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/greek_epic_fragments_theban_cycle_alcmeonis/2003/pb_LCL497.61.xml p. 61 n. 17]: "The line perhaps comes from a prayer in which Alcmaon called upon the powers of the earth to send up his father Amphiaraus."</ref>

Evidently for [[Aeschylus]], Zagreus was, in fact, an underworld god. In a fragment from one of Aeschylus' lost ''Sisyphus'' plays (c. 5th century BC), Zagreus seems to be the son of Hades,<ref>Gantz, p. 118; West 1983, p. 153; Aeschylus [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/aeschylus-attributed_fragments/2009/pb_LCL505.237.xml fr. 228 Sommerstein]  [= fr. 228 Radt = [https://archive.org/stream/aeschyluswitheng02aescuoft#page/458/mode/2up fr. 124 Smyth]].</ref> while in Aeschylus' ''Egyptians'' (''Aigyptioi''), Zagreus was apparently identified with Hades himself.<ref>Gantz, p. 118 (citing Aeschylus fr. 5 Radt); Sommerstein, p. 237, fr. 228 n. 1.</ref>

A fragment from [[Euripides]]' lost play ''Cretan Men'' (''Kretes'') has the chorus of Cretan men describe the "pure life" they have led since they became initiates (''mystai'') of [[Mount Ida (Crete)|Idaean]] Zeus and celebrants of:
{{blockquote|night-ranging Zagreus, performing his feasts of raw flesh;  and raising torches high to the mountain Mother among the Curetes,<ref>[[Euripides]] [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/euripides-dramatic_fragments/2008/pb_LCL504.539.xml fr. 472 Collard and Cropp].</ref>}}

and were consecrated and received the title of "bacchus".<ref>Gantz, p. 118; West 1983, p. 153.</ref> This passage associates Zagreus with the cult of Zeus at Cretan [[Mount Ida (Crete)|Mount Ida]], where the infant Zeus was guarded by the Cretan [[Korybantes|Curetes]]. According to West, Zagreus here is "a god of nocturnal mystery-rites, associated with a sacramental feast of raw flesh (and thus with the dismemberment of an animal victim)" and infers from this Euripidean passage that Zagreus "played a part in mysteries which claimed a Cretan origin."<ref>West 1983, pp. 153&ndash;154.</ref>