The Maenad in progress
The Maenads were the female followers of Dionysus. They followed him over the countryside in a divine state of madness brought on by dancing, music, and wine. Over the countryside they rambled in a drunken revel. The first Maenads were the nymphs who raised Dionysus, these were goddesses, these goddess Maenads would incite the women of the villages they passed through to also pass into a state of divine madness and join the revels.
The purpose of the revels was to gain insight and prophesy, it was not just a drunken orgy. it was the weak among the human followers who descended into debauchery instead of a state of divinity and prophecy. In their frenzied state the nymph Maenads could be very dangerous, often rending human and animal alike.
The Maenads carried a wand of ivy with a pine cone at the top, called a thyrsus. It is a phallic fertility symbol, while the ivy wreaths they wore were a symbol of immortality. The Maenads were very powerful are often representative of the power of women unbridled.
I have sculpted my Maenad in a pose taken from Isadora Duncan's dance of the same title. I think her piece and the technique in general captures the feel of many myths and faerie in general. WHile there is structure and a definite technique to Duncan dance, it also has a freedom and an exuberance many forms of dance lack. It is a lovely balance between technique and spirit.
At he moment, my Maenad is a lot more detailed than the picture, but the light is not cooperating. when she is cured the first time, I'll take a picture.
The purpose of the revels was to gain insight and prophesy, it was not just a drunken orgy. it was the weak among the human followers who descended into debauchery instead of a state of divinity and prophecy. In their frenzied state the nymph Maenads could be very dangerous, often rending human and animal alike.
The Maenads carried a wand of ivy with a pine cone at the top, called a thyrsus. It is a phallic fertility symbol, while the ivy wreaths they wore were a symbol of immortality. The Maenads were very powerful are often representative of the power of women unbridled.
I have sculpted my Maenad in a pose taken from Isadora Duncan's dance of the same title. I think her piece and the technique in general captures the feel of many myths and faerie in general. WHile there is structure and a definite technique to Duncan dance, it also has a freedom and an exuberance many forms of dance lack. It is a lovely balance between technique and spirit.
At he moment, my Maenad is a lot more detailed than the picture, but the light is not cooperating. when she is cured the first time, I'll take a picture.