The Mythological Concept of Sparagmos and its Relationship with the Greek Fertility Myth (Case Study: Euripides` Play Known as Bacchae)

Introduction: Myth is one of the most important foundations in the literary texts of nations, and Greece is no exception. Meanwhile, Dionysus, the main god associated with tragedy, has always been associated with fertility practices, and numerous fertility functions have been attributed to him. The concept of Sparagmos is one of the mythological themes related to fecundity that has been revealed in myth and subsequently in tragedy. The main goal of this research is to analyze the mythological concept in ancient Greek literature and dramatic art in order to clarify the relationships between myth and artistic forms. The research method has been to analyze the propositions related to Sparagmos and fertility as two mythological components, in order to gain a better practical understanding of the dramatic arts, and specifically ancient Greek tragedy. Based on what is stated in the play Bacchae by Euripides, the punishment of beheading and mutilation that Dionysus imposed on Pentheus because it was due to his blasphemy and ingratitude, is considered sacred and religious, and in this sense, it can be considered Sparagmos. On the other hand, since Dionysus, who orders the execution of Sparagmos, has reproductive and vegetative functions, the connection between killing in Sparagmos and birth in his miracles well expresses a kind of connection in that Dionysus, as a vegetative and reproductive god, completely uses Sparagmos as a ritual punishment (and not ordinary) to bring about fertility. The most important results of this research, apart from what has been mentioned, are that firstly, Sparagmos is the punishment that the central character of a myth is subjected to due to religious blasphemy, and secondly, Dionysus, as the god of fertility, is trying to bring about a new birth by issuing the order to execute Sparagmos.
Background of the Study: In general, research on Sparagmos, as one of the most important mythological concepts, should usually be sought in non-Iranian works. On the other hand, various studies have been conducted on fertility myths in different nations. Hence, some of the research generally includes the presence of the fertility myth in Iran and the world, in these researches, it can be seen that each of them tried to address the issue from a different angle: Seddiqi and Zarei (2015) have done a comparative analysis of the origin of the myth of the double herbal persons in Persian and Arab civilizations, and at the same time, they have discussed and investigated the myth of Siavash and Sudabe comparatively with Tammuz and Ishtar. Aydenlu (2013) aims to confront the relationship of Esfandiar in Iranian mythology with the basic question of whether he is an herbal god or not. But what is very close to the present article, the fertility myth in Greece based on Sparagmos, has not been directly mentioned, although researchers attribute the issue of Sparagmos to a ritual act, and on the other hand, they refer to Dionysus as an herbal deity, but they have not mentioned the combination of the two, and only in a few prominent studies such as McConnell (2016), Hubback (1990) and a number of others that will be referred to in the article, this issue has been avoided.
Methodology, Aim & Issues: This research is based on a descriptive method, using qualitative content analysis and documentary research, relying on and utilizing library information collection and compilation tools. Accordingly, the play The Bacchae by Euripides, as a work and book in which the myth of Sparagmos is the main theme, has been discussed in order to explain and interpret the issue of fertility and its relationship with Sparagmos in a tangible and text-based manner. So, the questions in this research are these: a. Is Sparagmos just one of the divine acts against the rebels, or are ritual and mythological layers discernible in this unique act? b. By what means can ritual behavior in tragedy be separated from non-ritual violence? The main purpose & aim of the research Is this: After discussing the concept of Sparagmos and its relationship to the fertility myth in Greece, its counterpart in Euripides' play The Bacchae is explained in order to find answers to two basic questions.
Conclusion & Results: A. Sparagmos is not necessarily a tragic component, but a mythological category that appears in tragedy more than other literary types due to the content structure of tragedy that focuses on disaster; B. As there are many similarities between Greece and Rome, in general, Rome and its mythology can be considered the same as that of Greece, which was used in Rome with changes. Sparagmos, as one of the mythological components in Greece, had a meaningful function and use in Rome as well; C. There is a form of dramatic functions and the use of mythological components, during which the poet consciously or unconsciously and simply by following the common literary traditions of his time uses them in his work. Ritual mythology made it stronger and more tangible.